Tech4home launches BLE voice remote control for RDK and Metrological

Remote control maker Tech4home has launched what it claims to be the first Bluetooth low energy (BLE) voice remote control solutions for RDK and Metrological enabled set-top boxes.

The company said that the new remote enables set-top boxes, such as RDK Video Accelerator products, to use voice commands to change channels, launch an app from the Metrological App store, and more.

Operators also have the ability to develop additional enhancements, such as universal voice search across live, on-demand, and apps, using the new RDK-enabled BLE remote control options from Tech4home.

Tech4home worked with RDK to develop the first voice remote control using the RDK BLE APIs which relies on common BLE profiles for standard functions.

Miguel Oliveira, managing director at Tech4home said: “RDK is backed by a wide range of leading industry players. Another important aspect is that the system’s reference design allows operators to create cost effective solutions for the end customer. With RDK, customers profit from a fully integrated and standardized BLE voice remote control. In addition, consumers gain access to a familiar voice remote experience they have come to expect. When it comes to Tech4home, all of our RCU products can be adapted to be RDK compatible.”

Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK said: “RDK innovations are driven by our community, and Tech4home is propelling this mission by providing an intuitively integrated voice remote control for RDK devices. With its BLE voice solutions, Tech4home is providing the industry with an innovative new remote and contributing to the RDK community a standardized BLE profile for voice integration.”

Jeroen Ghijsen, CEO of Metrological said: “Tech4home shares our vision that the future of TV will be about deploying simplified, integrated user experiences, and the remote is at the center of that experience. With Tech4home’s BLE voice remote solutions on RDK set-top boxes, voice commands can instantly control the user interface in real-time – to change channels or access a wide variety of premium OTT services as well as niche content and localized apps through the Metrological TV Application Platform.”