The idiot box is fast becoming a part of our home decor. So, if LCD, LED and Plasma televisions were not enough, the 'smart' televisions can be the new 'wall-hanging' in your room.These are integrated multimedia devices that have flat HD panels and offer video on demand, web browsing and applications through the internet in addition to broadcast content.
Electronic giants like Samsung, LG and Panasonic are all bringing in their range of smart televisions.
Samsung, this year has come up with 35 flat-panel television models, of which 12 are smart models.
These are 3D-enabled and provide access to movies, music and pictures on the net.
The 'all-share' feature enables wireless transfer of data between all web-enabled devices, maximise or minimise pages of broadcast content and access to Samsung Apps store - the world's first HDTV-based application store that provides access to 400 paid and free applications.
Ravinder Zutshi, Deputy MD, Samsung India, says: "The industry estimate for 'smart television' sales globally this year is 30 million units. However in India, since the category is just growing, we expect smart televisions to account for 15 per cent sales."
Samsung's smart televisions come in the screen size of 40" to 60" across the D5500, D6000, D7000 and D8000 series priced between Rs. 68,900-Rs. 400,000.
The total flat-panel television market is estimated at about 4.5
million units in India. Out of this, 25 to 30 per cent is constituted by HDTV. The industry estimate for smart televisions is projected at 6-7 lakh units this year.
Like its competitor, LG too rolled out 14 new models of smart televsions this month.
These comes in the screen size of 32" to 55" and are priced between Rs. 43,000-Rs. 1, 70, 000.
Special features include user-friendly dashboard, 'magic motion' remote control, richer online content, customised apps, videos and web browsing.
Rohit Pandit, business-head-consumer electronics, LG-India, said: "We are targeting sec-A consumers who are upwardly mobile."
LG aims to sell around 2 lakh smart televisions this year out of which one lakh would be 3D sets.
The company has tied up with Indian content providers like Hungama.com, BollywoodHungama.com, Ndtv.com, CarWale.com, Indiatimes.com and Zapak.com for local content.
Samsung has tie ups with Times Music, NDTV Convergence and Money Control.
Panasonic, the other major player in the flat-panel television segment launched 23 VIERA models (19" to 65") this month.
These are compatible with VIERA Connect services, and are priced between Rs. 12, 9000 to Rs. 3, 49, 000.
VIERA Connect is an Open IPTV platform that offers a collection of applications. Manish Sharma, director-marketing, Panasonic India, said: "We aim to achieve Rs. 9,000 crore in sales in India by 2012."
