At CES 2024, Amazon unveiled a video-streaming feature called Matter Casting set to rival Apple’s AirPlay and will allow for Android and iOS phones to transmit videos to Amazon devices, including its Fire TV boxes or sticks, and Echo Show 15 smart display.
The new feature can be used over various platforms, allowing for Android and iPhone users to wirelessly stream video to its TV hardware.
The release of Matter Casting aligns with Amazon’s strategy to develop interoperable services (another option to the propriety technology developed by Apple and Google).
The ability to cast videos with Apple’s AirPlay and Google’s Cast via phones onto a larger TV screen, when it worked, was ideal but casting is not always a smooth process for users.
Previously, Amazon did not have the option to cast because it doesn’t have its own smartphone which put the company at a handicap.
Matter Casting will at the outset send content from Amazon’s Prime Video app to Echo Show devices, but within months, it will start to work with Fire TV technology Amazon said.
The feature will eventually wok on an array of other video services, including Plex, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Starz and ZDF.
During the Matter Casting announcement, neither Apple and Google were mentioned, however, all three tech companies have collaborated during the evolution of Matter standard for smart home appliances.
Earlier, Amazon permitted streaming from its video app to its hardware without the Matter system but with Matter Casting, the tech titan has realised the benefits to support a streamlined video-streaming apps and TV devices experience when paired with Apple, Google and Amazon.
