1–2 weeks
AOSP — built in-house
A proven, fully customizable operator-tier launcher and our IPTV app, preloaded with your market's local TV and streaming services. Customized to your brand and confirmed with a working sample in 1–2 weeks.
Platform guide
AOSP vs Certified Android TV: which one does your launch actually need?
Both are Android — what separates them is Google's certification, and the time, cost and control you trade for it. We build AOSP ourselves, so we won't pretend to be neutral: for most operators it's the faster, cheaper, more flexible call, and that's our honest recommendation — and when a project genuinely needs certification, we deliver that too, with our certified 3PL partners. This page lays out the trade-off so you can tell which one your launch needs.
Most operators ship AOSP. When a project genuinely needs certification, we deliver that too.
1–2 weeks to a working sample
No per-device Google fees on AOSP
Both platforms, one partner
Start here
It usually comes down to one question
Do your subscribers need the open Google Play Store — a self-serve catalog of thousands of apps — plus Google Assistant and Chromecast?
No — a curated, operator-controlled experienceAOSP
You lead with your own service and a chosen line-up — including Netflix and other premium apps where you hold the operator agreement. Faster, cheaper, fully yours.
Yes — the open consumer app storeCertified
You want the full self-serve Play Store and Google's services as part of the product. Worth the licensing and the longer timeline.
Most operators answer ‘no’ and ship AOSP. Whichever way you lean, we deliver it.
Start here
First, what ‘certified’ actually changes
Both run Android. The line between them is Google's certification program — and everything that rides on it:
AOSP
open-source Android, fully yours — your launcher, your apps, your rules. No Google Play store and no certification gate, but with Widevine L1 and L3 on board, so with your operator deals it still runs premium apps like Netflix. Far faster and cheaper to launch.
Certified Android TV
Google-certified, with Google Play, Widevine L1, Google Assistant and Chromecast built in — the foundation for the certified app ecosystem — at the cost of Google's licensing, approval and timeline.
Time to market
Two paths to launch
The biggest practical difference isn't the technology — it's how long it takes to go live, and what it costs to get there.
AOSP with inext~2 months to shipping
- 1Customize the launcher, app and services to your brand
- 2Confirm a working sample — about 1–2 weeks in
- 3Roll out
Certified Android TV5–8 months to shipping
- 1License GMS, spec Google-approved hardware
- 2Build and integrate
- 3Certification testing
- 4Google approval
- 5Roll out
We've already built the AOSP platform, so its usual ‘slow to build’ downside is gone. Need certification? We run that track too, with our certified 3PL partners.
The full comparison
Where AOSP and Certified actually differ
| AOSP | Certified Android TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Store | No Play Store — your own app delivery | Built in — thousands of apps |
| Premium apps (Netflix, Disney+ in HD/4K) | Works where your network holds the operator agreement — our AOSP is Widevine L1 | Same, plus distribution via Google Play; the operator agreement still applies |
| Google Assistant & Chromecast | Not included (or custom) | Built in |
| Widevine DRM | Widevine L1 and L3 on inext boxes | Widevine L1 and L3 |
| Operator launcher / home screen | Fully custom, leads on boot — total control | Operator-tier launcher, within Google's rules |
| Preinstalled apps & local services | Exactly what your market needs — your call | Google Play model, plus your additions |
| Customization freedom | Total | Within Google's program |
| Hardware | Runs on lean, cost-optimized boxes | Higher-spec, Google-approved |
| Time to market | ~2 months to shipping (a working sample in 1–2 weeks) | Typically 5–8 months to shipping |
| Cost | No GMS license or per-device Google fees | GMS license, per-device fees, test-lab costs |
| Billing & payments (selling to subscribers) | Any payment gateway or partner — your own billing, no platform cut | Digital sales must use Google Play billing — Google takes a fee |
| Pushing a system/firmware update | Build it today, on the whole fleet tomorrow — entirely your call | Every system change must pass Google or a 3PL lab before you can ship it |
| Google dependency | None | Ongoing compliance with Google |
| Managed by the inext stack | Same on both: Alcatraz DMSOTATR-069customization | |
Premium apps like Netflix need their own device certification and, for an ISP bundling them, a direct operator agreement — on either platform. The upside: our AOSP is Widevine L1, so with that agreement Netflix runs on it, no Google certification required. We'll map what each app in your line-up needs.
What you get
Our AOSP isn't a blank box — it's a launch-ready platform
Everything below is already built, proven and customized to your brand. The exact app line-up is tailored to your country and licensing, so it isn't listed here.
- A customizable operator-tier launcher — your brand and content first on boot
- Our IPTV app, branded as yours
- Your market's local TV and streaming services preloaded — plus premium apps like Netflix where you hold the agreement
- Managed by Alcatraz DMS, OTA and TR-069 from day one
- Customized and confirmed with a working sample in 1–2 weeks
Whichever you need
Both platforms, one partner — and a straight answer on which you need
Let's be straight: AOSP is our own product, so it's what we build and what we'll usually recommend — because for most operators it genuinely is the better fit. What we won't do is push it when your project needs certification, or sell you certification you don't. When you do need it, we deliver fully certified Android TV too, working with our certified 3PL partners on the certification. One relationship, one operations stack, and a straight answer instead of a sales pitch for whichever earns us more.
Certified Android TV — we deliver it, with 3PL partners
When your offer needs Google Play, certified premium apps and Widevine L1, we deliver fully certified Android TV — working with our certified 3PL partners on the certification, with inext as your single point of contact and one team accountable.
One stack runs both
Whichever platform you land on, the same inext operations run the fleet — Alcatraz DMS, staged OTA, TR-069 and white-label customization. Choosing AOSP or certified doesn't change how you operate day to day.
FAQ
Common questions
Talk to us
Not sure if your launch needs certification?
Tell us what your subscribers expect and how fast you need to go live. We'll recommend the platform that fits — AOSP or certified — and deliver it.