YouTube and Social TV top most used applications in the Gulf

Samsung Electronics Co, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today revealed the latest numbers in Smart TV apps usage and downloads in the Gulf region. The most used application for 2012 on Samsung’s Smart TV has been YouTube with an impressive 40 percent usage rate in the Gulf region. Other heavily uses applications included Social TV, Skype, and Facebook.

The latest findings indicate an increased interest in Smart TV users to stream their social media preferences onto their home entertainment systems. The findings also show a significant shift in the way people use their Smart TVs. Other apps that were popular with UAE Samsung Smart TV users were: DEWA, the first business solution application developed in the UAE; AOL HD; AccuWeather; Facebook; and Explore 3D, Samsung’s free video-on-demand application witch access to over 100 3D videos.

“Interest in applications on Smart TV increased at a tremendous pace since the introduction our Samsung Smart TVs. Samsung Apps reached more than 500,000 downloads since the roll-out of Samsung Smart TVs in the region signifying a change in user preference and how people are actually watching TV, said Mr. Vinod Nair, General Manager, CTV Business at Samsung Gulf Electronics. “Samsung’s leadership role in this category has paid off and allowed us to provide new experiences for consumers that are more rich and integrated than any before.”

Within the Gulf, Samsung is focusing on developing a variety of tailored Arabic language content and applications, enabling Samsung Smart TVs to offer the richest and limitless content choices available. As demand for Smart TV apps grows, Samsung is also looking to partner with regional multimedia companies and developers to produce regional-centric video-on-demand services and interactive applications. Currently, Samsung Smart TVs have over 250 applications available for the Gulf region allowing viewers to customize their home entertainment experience based on their preferences.

On a global front, Samsung has launched exclusive services that redefine what the TV can do for consumers, including: Family Story, connecting family members through a private cloud where personal content can live, including photos, videos, notes, and live updates on family events; Fitness, a service that lets users to enjoy exercise around their own schedule and Kids.