A deal that helps both companies out, OnLive, the service that hosts PC games in the cloud and streams them to users on a range of devices, is coming to Vizio’s new lineup of HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and Android tablet and smartphone.
Since launching last year with an app for Macs and PCs, OnLive has released a small set-up box (the OnLive MicroConsole) to connect to TVs and run its service as well as an iPad app. The new agreement will add its software to the Vizio Internet Apps platform, perhaps paving the way for OnLive to partner with other HDTV manufacturers and consumer electronics firms releasing streaming devices for the living room.
For Vizio, it gives that company a content source that its competitors lack, at least for the moment, and should make potential OnLive subscribers think hard about buying Vizio hardware instead of spending an extra $100 on the MicroConsole.
Gamers could use that extra cash to pay OnLive’s fees, which include a la carte renting or purchasing of individual games or $9.99 monthly for an all-you-game plan. Click the link to check out a review of the MicroConsole.
