A New Apple Video Streaming Service – Will It Be Cloud Based TV?
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Several media outlets are reporting that Apple is likely working on a “cloud-based TV service” that would be compatible with its strong line of products – iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Macs.
The Business Insider (SAI) has reported that analyst Peter Misek claims Apple will soon launch a “new far reaching cloud-based service” focused on video. Ticonderoga Securities’ analyst, Brian White, says that the company now seems to be “moving down this pace at a faster pace than the market expected.”
According to the recent reports, all data points seem to indicate the new service could be launched by the end of 2011.
Let’s think about this for a minute. Would Apple really launch a cloud-based TV service for consumers? Why not? When Apple entered the music business with iTunes and the iPod lineup, they actually disrupted the existing ecosystem. The company is well known for launching revolutionary concepts and products.
The iTunes music and applications store has been extremely successful for the company. The fact that it works across all Apple’s devices makes it easy for the company to launch a video service that would contribute to the new slang called “cable cutters”. Consumers would simply be able to stream video content to all iOS devices, Mac computers, and could even leverage Apple’s AirPlay technology to eventually project content from any of those devices to their favorite TV screen at home. Let’s not forget that Apple could license AirPlay to many of the TV manufacturers.
What about Apple’s data center in North Carolina? Yes, many of us in the tech blog world believe the huge North Carolina data center would be for the rumored iOS 5 and revamped MobileMe service. But, what about video?
Apple has plenty of cash, and as Business Insider reported, analyst Misek believes the company can build “super data centers” in multiple locations that can be used to deliver video across Apple devices. Misek has gone as far as to say that the reason some content owners have asked cable companies like Cablevision and Time Warner to remove their channels from their iPad apps, is because content owners may be negotiating deals with Apple. “We find it notable that the content companies, citing a lack of domain license, asked Cablevision to remove channels from its iPad app. We believe these same companies are negotiating some sort of deal with Apple.”, said Misek.
We don’t know if all of this information is far fetched or not. Many can question, if Apple will truly decide to enter the video streaming business against Netflix, Vudu and others. We know that network operators around the world have been creating “capped or tiered data plans” due to the large increase of video consumption online. Will Apple decide to challenge the industry? Will Apple convince content owners to license their precious content?
What do you think?
