Over one million households in the Middle East region will have a television connected to the Internet by 2011, a provider of networking and storage products has said.
With the region having more than 47 million internet users, the majority of whom are below 35 years, NETGEAR has identified the prospects in tapping into the younger segment of the consumer market as they prove to be more susceptible to global consumer trends.
In line with this, the company has unveiled its Digital Entertainer Live (EVA2000), a new router with live Internet-television browsing capabilities to Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the Middle East.
Designed to be connected directly into the TV, 'EVA2000' allows users to watch Internet videos in a big screen, browse for news, sports, and homes videos from popular video-uploading sites, watch music videos, enjoy personal pictures, music and videos on the TV by plugging-in a flash drive; and search the Internet for more video content.
The router also enables bookmarking of the users' favourite sites, as well as access to free English and Arabic channels, and European and American channels, which are not offered by satellite television.
"The Internet has pushed the limitations of conventional media channels, not only because of its real-time features but mainly due to the convenience it offers to users," Ahmad Zeidan, channel sales manager, NETGEAR Middle East said.
