Hotel Internet Services is unveiling the full integration of voice-activated technology in its BeyondTV platform, a television content streaming and casting solution that offers an all-inclusive guestroom entertainment experience. Deployed alongside Amazon's Alexa and via a software integration with Volara, BeyondTV now provides guests with the ability to fully control all television-based functions that the solution offers through voice command.
BeyondTV’s newest upgrade not only allows users to turn guestroom televisions on or off, but also significantly provides guests with the ability to change channels or pull up a television guide with the use of their voice. Guests can even request the platform to display a specific television show by simply speaking its name.
Voice command also extends to the array of features offered by BeyondTV, such as personal device casting, access to social media and online video-streaming accounts, or the ability to visit websites on the guestroom television. With BeyondTV hosting its own expansive library of pay-per-view movies, guests can instantly locate and begin watching the content of their choice without having to pick up a remote control.
“The introduction of voice technology to the hospitality industry has seen a rapid rise in services and amenities that are now voice-compatible, but what was missing was a solution that could also integrate such convenience with an immersive in-room entertainment experience,” HIS CEO Gary Patrick said in a statement. “BeyondTV directly caters to this need by ensuring that its features are readily available upon spoken request, which alongside other functions, such as the ability to order roomservice, turn lights on or adjust the thermostat via voice, provides hotels with the ability to fully meet guest demands for instant and personalized service.”
As a cloud-based integration, BeyondTV automatically receives television-specific voice commands that are routed from Volara. Volara further ensures that service requests or commands to activate other amenities are also directed to the appropriate systems. Each unit is pre-configured to a property's specific guestroom and Wi-Fi network, allowing hoteliers to implement the solution with minimal effort.