Apalya Technologies launches movie-on-demand service myplex, starts with Hollywood flicks
Hyderabad-based mobile video streaming company Apalya Technologies Pvt Ltd has launched a video-on-demand service called myplex, which brings Hollywood content along with live content across movies, TV shows, video clips, trailers and other entertainment, to users.
myplex has already partnered with leading companies such as Warner Bros and Sony Pictures to bring Hollywood content to users. myplex is accessible online as well as on Android-based smartphones and tablets. The company says it will launch the iOS version soon."We are starting with Hollywood movies, and will add more categories going forward. New releases, including 'Gravity' which bagged seven Oscars in 2014, are available for rental and purchase," said Venugopal Iyengar, business head (direct-to-consumer division) at Apalya Technologies.
Users can rent/buy movies using debit/credit/cards and also through net banking. The pricing starts at Rs 99 and it can go up to Rs 799 depending on factors such content, quality and new release, etc. Consumers can also download a movie of their choice and save it for later viewing even when they are offline. The firm will soon introduce mobile wallet as well as operator billing solutions to make the transaction easy for consumers.
myplex will mainly compete with BoxTV, an on-demand video service from Times Internet; Spuul, an ad-supported and a premium subscription-based online video streaming service; Big Flix, the digital media arm of Reliance Group; and Eros Now, the online movie streaming arm of the film studio Eros International Media Pvt Ltd.
Started in 2005 by Vamshi Reddy, a former Cisco executive, Apalya is a managed service provider focused on mobile video streaming and caters to telecom operators, handset manufacturers and content owners throughout India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Last July, Apalya opened an office in Bangalore. Last year, the company had launched a live streaming service called 'myplex now', which is focused on Bollywood and other domestic content.
In April last year, Apalya raised an undisclosed amount in funding from Cisco Technologies and existing investors IndoUS Venture Partners (now Kalaari Capital), Qualcomm and IDG Ventures. It was preceded by a $7.5 million funding from IndoUS Venture Partners, IDG and Qualcomm in 2011.
(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)