Orange makes OCast TV software open source

Orange has made its Chromecast-style OCast software available open source, in what it described as a “milestone” in its technical strategy.

OCast lets people use smartphones to play back and control videos on devices including TVs, set-top boxes and streaming sticks. The software can also play and control slideshows, playlists and web apps.

By open sourcing the technology Orange has published all the code without licence fees, allowing operators to easily integrate it into set-top boxes and for video service providers to use it in apps.

“The release of OCast as open source software is a milestone in Orange’s technical strategy by enabling it to accelerate the development of the services available via its set-top boxes and by creating a virtuous circle with other operators to create a new video services ecosystem,” said Thierry Souche, senior vice president Orange Labs Services and group CIO at Orange.

Deutsche Telekom is now in the early stages of testing the technology, while security specialist and Orange subsidiary Viaccess-Orca will use it in its range of solutions for TV operators.

Viaccess-Orca CEO, Paul Molinier, said: “We are delighted to support our TV operator clients in the implementation of this new technology, by providing our content protection solutions and, more generally, our security expertise.”

The OCast software is available to telecoms operators and mobile app developers who are free to use it in TV service and content developments.