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While many consumers are still trying to figure out what exactly Google Glass actually does, online video content syndication platform OVGuide has fully embraced the wearable tech trend, recently launching an application for Google Glass. It is one of the first 50 applications in the Google Glass store, according to OVGuide VP of Operations Tom Dodson.
The free app is an extension of OVGuide's video search, aggregation, and streaming service. Users can select entertainment and sports video content syndicated from OVGuide and access updated content across their Google Glass timeline, either daily or in real time. The app was originally developed internally by the OVGuide staff as "a fun side project," said Dodson.
"We wanted to leverage our API to create something functional, while showcasing our content to the public," Dodson said. "We finished it in a couple of weeks."
OVGuide partners CelebTV, Campus Insiders, and BoxOfficeBuz are among the first to provide video content to the app, including celebrity interviews, movie trailers, and college sports videos. In comparison, website OVGuide.com features over 40 million topic pages and currently receives an average of 12 million monthly unique visitors, presenting a number of opportunities for growth and a number of possible directions for app content.
"We want to analyze data and see what kind of content our users are subscribing to; that will drive the direction of where we want to take it," Dodson said. "Short-form content like movie trailers and news seems to be better for this kind of technology but we want to test and see, because you never know."
With Google Glass still serving a limited user base, Dodson says that OVGuide is taking a "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to future updates to the app. One issue of concern is the issue of advertising. Google currently does not allow advertising in the Google Glass content stream. Dodson said OVGuide requested approval from current partners to run their content without ads, and hopes to expand the content offerings in the future.
"We are focusing on movie trailers, celebrity and sports content but we could easily expand this out to other types of content," Dodson said. "We have a great working relationship with our partners."
