Cloud content company Brightcove has unveiled a content app platform for building and operating native apps and websites for iOS and Android phones and tablets. 

The platform, called Brightcove App Cloud, combines an open HTML5-based development model with cloud services for cross-platform compilation, automated app distribution, analytics, advertising, and connectors for content management systems and other cloud services.

Developers use HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and the App Cloud SDK to create app templates. The App Cloud SDK includes JavaScript component libraries for accessing native device capabilities, and retrieving and submitting content.

“Delivering content apps across fragmented devices forces publishers to choose between redundant one-off app development and cookie-cutter templates,” says Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove chairman and CEO. “App Cloud offers a new alternative with a platform that significantly streamlines the development and management of custom content apps across devices. With App Cloud, Brightcove cloud content services offer unprecedented choice, control and efficiency for initiatives spanning online video, native apps and touch websites.”

App Cloud is expected to be commercially available in the second half of 2011. The product is currently in private beta for approved customers and partners.