When you look at the price, performance, variety of products, manufacturers – Android Set Top Boxes currently seem to have it all. End users love open platforms where they can install apps, check Email, Facebook or whatnot.

But all of this just gives service providers a big headache. While it is good to have a cheap and powerful client, it is paramount to have as closed and controlled environment as you can get with DRM support, established brands, etc. To keep both sides happy you have to invest heavily in system engineering, losing some (or all) of the money you gained from buying cheaper set top boxes and probably reducing the functionality.

From then on, you will have to invest in this platform, keeping the system protected and updated for years to come. Once the system has been established, it is up to you to sell as much as you can, so you could return the money invested in development. Naturally, the more people you currently have on your system, the harder and more expensive it will be to move them to the new platform.

And then, when you finish and everything goes well, you could ask yourself this question: Did I just shoot myself in the foot here by enabling someone to have Netflix on my own STB and now I will not sell any VOD at all?

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