How Cloud-Based Management Solutions Simplify Deployment of Your Android TV Box Fleet

By Nadav Avni, Chief Marketing Officer at Radix Technologies

The telco industry has a long, rich history of bundling. While modern telephony started in the 1870s, the idea of households having their phones only took off in the 1900s. Even back then, telephone companies happily threw in devices with their services. 

Fast forward to 2022, when today’s telco operators offer more than just basic telephony services like broadband internet. Product bundling means customers can enjoy a router and Android TV box, too.

The Android TV Box Enhances the TV Experience

Everybody loves streaming services—making them a great way to get customers interested in signing up for broadband connections. The global video-on-demand market will hit $94.87 billion in 2022 and $157.91 billion by 2027. 

Telcos have every intention of riding the tech wave and would love it if their customers subscribed to streaming services, video downloads, or digital pay-per-view. For this reason, they’ll throw in free smart devices like an Android TV box set or offer discounted smart TVs. 

Once hooked on streaming and other bandwidth-heavy content, subscribers will be more than happy to upgrade their plans. 

Product bundling is central to the telco’s dual strategy of increasing customer lifetime value (LTV) and minimizing churn. They do this by providing the necessary equipment for customers to better enjoy broadband services, like Android TV boxes that allow more than just standard access to streaming services.

Powered by Google’s Android TV, the set-top box unlocks additional capabilities for users looking to get the most bang for their broadband buck. The ability to install and run Android applications from their TV is at the top of that list.

Bundling an Android TV box to a broadband subscription allows customers to enjoy the following benefits: 

Access to Apps From the Google Play Store

Streaming services are just the beginning. The Android TV Box lets users turn their dumb TVs into instant smart devices. This means users can access social accounts, view online videos, and even play games all from their standard, run-of-the-mill television set. Any available app in the Google Play Store that runs on Android TV is fair game. 

The Ability to Connect Peripheral Devices

Why settle for clunky TV remote controls when you can use your computer peripherals instead? Adding mice, keyboards, gamepads, and other peripheral devices to your regular TV is now not only possible but easy with Android TV. This means better and more intuitive control when using the device for playing games, entering text, and navigating the interface. 

Activation of Android TV Box Voice Controls

Android TV also features Google Assistant, a voice-enabled application that allows users to issue commands by speaking. With an Android-TV-powered set-top box, customers can install and enable Google Assistant and enjoy a hands-free experience when operating their TVs. 

Managing and Maintaining the Android TV Box Requires Reliable Device Management Software

Managing the entire fleet of customer premises equipment issued to subscribers can be daunting on the telco side of things. Even the biggest IT service team will face difficulty visiting individual customers to perform maintenance services on each Android TV box. 

At the same time, relying on default device management software may not be good enough. Remote management remains the best option for optimally servicing the entire device fleet. 

However, relying on older protocols like TR-69 might not be the best solution for today’s generation of Android TV devices. Transmitting scripts and performing over-the-air (OTA) updates to the entire fleet could take days or weeks to complete. 

Instead, telcos should consider applying modern solutions to modern problems. For Android TV set-top boxes numbering in the hundreds or thousands, cloud-based device management software can offer a better solution. 

Key Benefits of Cloud Device Management Software 

Secure Connectivity 

Cloud-based software that runs on dependable platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), can ensure secure connections for every session. AWS provides end-to-end encryption reducing redundancy and latency. This means that admins can safely and securely connect to any fleet device. 

Low-level Management

With an established, secure, stable connection, admins can perform low-level management services. They include performing operating system and firmware updates, application installations, and script loading. Admins can also schedule automatic updates or repairs during device downtimes and perform individual, batch, or fleet updates. 

Fully Remote Servicing

The ideal device manager can remotely connect to any Android TV box to perform maintenance and repair services anytime. This also means that in-person human intervention is no longer necessary—drastically reducing support calls, labor hours, field service activities, and safety risks. 

Stakeholder Multiple Access Levels

The optimal device management solution should also recognize that various stakeholders in the organization have different requirements and should therefore have different access levels.

For example, admins and support staff can access and modify system settings and perform updates. But, they shouldn’t have access to the user data collected by each device. Similarly, management can gather and consolidate each user’s data to generate insights. 

All the while, Finance stakeholders can flag/alert individual devices or disable units with delinquent accounts. They can also monitor device usage to see if subscribers abide by the terms of use. 

Secure Devices and Data 

Administrators can also implement remote security measures on Android TV box devices that are at risk of physical or data theft. Admins can remotely disable or freeze a device suspected of unauthorized usage or access. In addition, they can also geolocate missing or stolen devices. In extreme measures, the service team can remotely wipe the contents of a device if there is a threat of a data breach or leak. 

For the Maintenance and Management of Android TV Box Fleets, Get a Reliable Device Management Solution

Each Android TV box is an investment made by a telco to provide customers with more options to enjoy their subscriptions. As such, owners should consciously work to maintain, manage, and secure their fleet devices to withstand the test of time. That way, they can enjoy a faster and better return on investment.