iQiyi, a Chinese online video service, confirmed the rumor that it is developing Smart TV with local media DoNews (in Chinese). The device, with a 46-inch screen and priced at 3000-4000 yuan, will be released in September. It’s unknown which TV manufacturer is producing the hardware.
It is reported that iQiyi, unlike LeTV, would not get involved in hardware manufacturing but only develop software to support online video streaming.
The strategy is similar to Alibaba’s. Alibaba developed a software solution, hoping to have as many TV manufacturers as possible to adopt it. But several conventional TV makers made it clear they’d not sign up to Alibaba’s program.
Youku recently joined in the Internet TV movement. It is reported that it’s working on both set-top box and TV set.
image credit: donews.com
