iWorld
Asian SVOD service: Star Online partners Xstream & Diagnal
MUMBAI: Xstream, a leading provider of OTT solutions, and Diagnal, Asia’s regional OTT specialists has announced that they are powering the new Video On Demand (VOD) service called dimsum. The VOD service is operated by Star Online, a subsidiary of the Star Media Group.
It is a subscription-based VOD service with exclusive Asian content prized at RM 15 (Rs 148.5) per month. The online High Definition (HD) video service offers five concurrent users on one single account, on five different devices.
While Xstream’s modular and cloud-based OTT Platform, Xstream MediaMaker, is the backbone of the new multiscreen VOD solution, Diagnal has custom designed and developed the dimsum website, Android apps, iOS apps including their video players.
“In Chinese, dimsum literally translates to ‘selection of the heart’ or ‘order to your heart’s content’ and this is exactly what we want to do for our audience with dimsum. Provide them with exclusive and compelling content with an easy user experience,” said dimsum chief marketing officer Lam Swee Kim. “By leveraging Xstream’s OTT platform and Diagnal’s remarkable industry knowledge, world class design and on time delivery focus, we have been able to launch dimsum in record time. Moreover the partnership has allowed us to focus on our core business – to serve premium and exclusive Asian content.”
The Star Media Group which is primarily a news and media organization has embarked on a second phase of its digital transformation plan with the launch of dimsum, its own online video on demand service. A part of the group’s plan is to stay ahead of the game and to reinvent its business.
“Working with Star Media Group on launching dimsum with very ambitious launch dates, has been tremendously rewarding. With dimsum, Star Online will now be able to create new revenue streams”, said Xstream CEO Laurits Tygesen. “We are excited and honored to work with one of the most innovative media companies in the Asia Pacific region and provide them with the tools to stay competitive and satisfy the growing appetite of today’s viewers. Joining forces with superb tech partners like Diagnal, also allows us to provide our customers with best in-class technology, in-depth knowledge and proven experience.”
With the launch of dimsum, Star is taking on the battle with global and regional VOD services that have launched in Malaysia in the last couple of years, with the difference being that dimsum focuses only on Asian content.
“As broadband speeds and smartphone penetration increases, we are seeing independent studios, media organisations and broadcasters across the Asia region reinventing their businesses with premium video streaming services. New entrants need to hit the ground running with a great service, then be ready to scale, to compete and to continue to innovate. We are very happy to see our latest customer Star Online launch dimsum successfully. It has been a great team effort between Star Online, Xstream and Diagnal. Diagnal has provided world class UIUX design for dimsum. Diagnal has also developed the dimsum apps and website including a fully featured video player supporting multiple DRM standards, multiple subtitles and multiple audio. Our team of seasoned OTT industry professionals has helped the dimsum service launch quickly and with high quality,” added Diagnal CEO Reuben Verghese.
Solution highlights
Dimsum is an exclusive subscription VOD service by Star Online, powered by Xstream MediaMaker, using AWS to deliver unparalleled performance and durability
A subscription based Video-on-Demand service with exclusive Asian content being the primary differentiator
For a monthly Subscription service (SVOD) consumers pay RM15 per month targeting young, connected and new age audiences.
Available across connected devices including Web, Android and iOS with more devices on the roadmap
Five concurrent users per account on five different devices
Parental control with Kids model
Dimsum will be screened in HD with no interruption or buffering
World class user experience with advanced video player features including multiple DRM, multiple audio languages and multiple subtitles.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
