SPB Software has updated the Android version of its flagship SPB TV solution to version 2.0, and moved to a free, ad-supported model, with no download or subscription costs. Ads appear only during channel buffering.

In addition to existing features, including quick channel previews; a TV guide; a catalogue with more than 150 channels in over 20 languages; picture-in-picture mode; and fast channel launching and switching, the new version offers also a video on demand (VOD) option, plus support for Android tablet devices. 

Another significant enhancement is support for the Advanced Video Codec, H.264, which improves video quality. As a result, the company says, even with substantially lower bitrates, picture quality is greatly improved. SPB TV 2.0 also enables users with low speed mobile network connections to watch TV.

SPB TV also works on iPhone/iPad, Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and WebOS smartphones as well as on feature phones. Last month, SPB TV reached the 2m user milestone.

“(The) number of Android users grows every day. It was very important for us to provide SPB end users and business customers with best in class mobile TV solution for Android phones as well as Android tablets and now SPB TV 2.0 is available to all Android users absolutely free,” says SPB COO, Vassili Philippov.

SPB TV is also available as a solution for mobile operators. SPB TV Mobile Operators Solution enables operators to couple the solution with their own infrastructure and a choice subscription models. Three mobile operators worldwide have already deployed SPB TV-based mobile TV solutions.

SPB TV 2.0 is available for smartphones and tablets running Android 1.6 and up. It requires a reliable 3G or wi-fi network connection. The full version of SPB TV is available for free from Android Market.