Amazon launches a video streaming feature that competes with AirPl…

Bloomberg – Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) has introduced a new feature that mimics Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) AirPlay and works across platforms, paving the way for iPhone and Android users to wirelessly stream video to their TVs.

The feature, called Matter Casting, is part of Amazon's effort to create interoperable services, an alternative to proprietary technology developed by Apple and Google. It will make it easier for iOS and Android phones to send video to Amazon devices, such as Fire TV boxes and sticks, as well as the Echo Show 15 smart display.

For many years, Apple's AirPlay and Google Cast have offered this capability, allowing users to enjoy video from their phones on a big screen TV. But these systems don't always work seamlessly across platforms. Amazon was also at a disadvantage because it did not have a smartphone of its own.

The new system, which was demonstrated Tuesday at the CES conference in Las Vegas, Initially, only content from the Amazon Prime Video app will be sent to Echo Show devices. Matter Casting will begin compatibility with Fire TV technology within “months”The company said.

Later this year, the feature will work with other video services, including Plex, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Starz, and ZDF, according to Amazon.

Apple and Google did not participate in the Matter Casting announcement, but the three technology giants cooperated in supporting the Matter standard for smart devices. This system allows an Apple user, for example, to access smart home devices designed for the Amazon ecosystem.

The hope is to do the same with TV technology. Although Amazon previously allowed streaming from its video app to its devices, it did not use the Matter system. with With the new approach, Amazon sees the potential to make streaming video apps and TVs work seamlessly across the Apple, Google and Amazon portfolio.

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