iWorld
OpenTV launches IPTV solution for C&S telecom operators
MUMBAI: OpenTV Corp, providers of technologies and services enabling the delivery of digital and interactive television, has announced the introduction of OpenTV Core 2.0 for IPTV for cable, satellite and telecommunications operators.
The new product, which will be commercially available this June, extends the capabilities of OpenTV’s proven, scalable middleware solutions to network operators wishing to deploy IPTV services over traditional and hybrid broadband IP networks.
“OpenTV Core 2.0 for IPTV ensures IPTV support for our worldwide customer base,” said OpenTV’s senior vice president and general manager of products and marketing Tim Evard.
Evard pointed out that with OpenTV IPTV, operators can now build IPTV services without compromising on advanced features such as video on demand (VOD), personal video recording (PVR) and interactivity, all while relying on a proven platform with global distribution, support services and a world-wide developer community with OpenTV applications and content ready to deploy.
Whether a new entrant into the digital TV market wants to deploy IPTV, or a cable or satellite operator wants to leverage its existing infrastructure to deploy over IP, OpenTV Core 2.0 for IPTV will enables them to deliver scalable solutions quickly to their subscribers.
OpenTV brings advanced, feature-rich digital TV services to the world of IPTV including VOD, PVR and network PVR, enhanced and interactive television, games, information services and personal and protected media distribution throughout the connected home.
OpenTV Core 2.0 for IPTV also makes it easy for OpenTV’s over 35 set-top box manufacturer licensees to easily deliver IP capable set-top boxes with OpenTV Core middleware and its robust set of digital and interactive television features.
In addition, OpenTV’s open interfaces with digital television vendors provide network operators maximum flexibility with freedom of choice for rights management and content protection systems (CA/DRM), media formats, video servers, set-top boxes and OSS/BSS systems.
iWorld
Schmooze launches AI matchmaker Riya to personalise dating
300,000 users try feature as retention doubles on Gen Z dating app.
MUMBAI: Love might be blind, but now it’s also algorithmically curated and apparently quite chatty. Schmooze has introduced an AI-powered personal matchmaker named Riya, marking its latest push to move beyond swipe-led dating into deeper, personality-driven matchmaking. Unlike traditional matching systems, Riya interacts directly with users through conversations asking about everything from lifestyle and humour to relationship goals and family values. The idea is simple but ambitious: understand users beyond surface-level preferences and recommend matches that actually fit.
The feature builds on a pattern Schmooze had already observed. Its earlier AI tool, People Finder, allowed users to describe their ideal partner in detail and users did exactly that. Requests ranged from “an extrovert who works in tech and likes to cook” to hyper-specific traits, signalling a clear shift towards intent-driven dating.
That insight exposed a gap. While dating apps typically rely on probability-based algorithms, many users already know what they want they just lack a system that can interpret it meaningfully.
Riya attempts to fill that gap using a conversational approach. Instead of rigid inputs, it gathers signals organically sometimes through casual questions about weekend plans or social habits while mapping deeper compatibility markers in the background.
To support this, Schmooze has built its own end-to-end voice AI stack and large language model, rather than relying on third-party systems. The move is aimed at keeping costs in check while handling scale, and ensuring tighter control over user data and privacy.
The early numbers suggest traction. More than 300,000 users have already interacted with Riya, with those users showing 2× higher retention compared to others on the platform. While the system is designed for short interactions, some users are spending up to 40–50 minutes in conversation occasionally even asking for date ideas, prompting the company to add personalised recommendations.
The launch is the latest step in Schmooze’s broader attempt to rethink dating for Gen Z. Founded by Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag, the platform initially stood out by using memes as a proxy for personality tracking over 3.5 billion meme swipes across its base of more than 5 million users.
In a market dominated by global players like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, Schmooze’s approach signals a shift from visual-first discovery to interaction-led compatibility. And with AI now stepping in as a digital wingman, the dating game may be moving from swipe right to speak right.
