Google launches 'smart' TV

Google launches 'smart' TV

London, May 21 : Google has launched 'smart' TV, a service that integrates Internet and television.

The company has collaborated with Sony Corp., Intel Corp. and Logitech International to turn televisions into giant monitors for Internet browsing so it can make more money selling ads.

It generated nearly 24 billion dollars in revenue last year, mostly from Internet ads displayed on computer screens.

Google's advertisements for regular television programming fetched them meager returns.

"I think this is going to be the biggest improvement to television since colour," The Telegraph quoted Intel CEO Paul Otellini as saying.

At the demo session, the company showed how one can conduct searches for online videos and other content through a drop box displayed at the top corner of the TV screen.

Viewers can also check the thumbnail views of a game score and can make search requests by speaking into a remote that runs on Google''s Android operating system.

Although the concept may be baffling to customers at first, it has immense potential to take the market by storm by making Internet TV simpler and more appealing.

Sony will manufacture the TVs, while Intel will provide the microprocessors. Google will develop the software, including Android and the company''s Chrome Web browser. Logitech will supply a special remote control and wireless keyboard.