W

hile electronic producers have started to introduce built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Internet applications into their TV sets, solution provider SpeedUp offers the Smart TV Box device which could turn common TV sets into high tech appliances.

“People don’t have to buy new expensive television sets to enjoy internet connection on larger displays with their families just the Smart TV Box,” SpeedUp product and marketing director Rahmad Widjaja Sakti said during the product launch on Wednesday.

Rahmad said that Smart TV Box was a plug-and-play device which could be connected to any kind of television set, including the cathode ray tube (CRT) of yesteryear.

The Smart TV Box is built with an Android operating system and already installed with various types of software, such as photo viewer and game applications, commonly found in personal computers or mobile devices.

The Smart TV box has two variants; the LAN version called Exploria and the Wi-Fi version called Euphoria. Both versions also comply with SpeedUp’s modems, in case LAN and Wi-Fi connection are not available.

The Exploria comes with a remote control with 45 keys and six mouse-keys. The remote control can be used at up to 8 meters of visual distance.

The Euphoria has a remote control with QWERTY keypad, which will facilitate users to type web addresses on television screens. Euphoria’s remote control can be used at up to 10 meters of visual distance.

Exploria and Euphoria are offered at Rp 1.2 million (US$133.37) and Rp 1.7 million respectively, far behind built-in Internet TV sets which can cost up to Rp 50 million.

Recently, electronic producer PT Sharp Electronic Indonesia unveiled a 70-inch LED TV with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Internet applications, targeting upper and middle class customers.

 “We target all people who want to have smart TV sets, but don’t want to buy new TV sets,” SpeedUp head of marketing and digital business Agnes Aninditya said.

Agnes said that SpeedUp targeted sales of 50,000 Smart TV Boxes by the end of the year.

“The products are already available at the SpeedUp center and various computer appliance stores nationwide,” she said.

Rahmad said that he and his company hoped for a fast penetration by the Smart TV Box of the Indonesian market. “The potential is huge as there are about 100 million television sets in 50 million families in Indonesia. Moreover, we have no competitor yet,” Rahmad said. (rcf)