Cloud content service provider Brightcove announced a free open source version of its HTML5 mobile app platform, called App Cloud Core, including an open source SDK, testing and debugging tools, unlimited cloud compilation and real-time analytics for tracking app installations and usage.

The company said that the SDK and cloud services, which support the efficient operation and management of apps, make it "the end-to-end solution for building and managing apps."

Brightcove chief marketing officer Jeff Whatcott told Mobile Apps Briefing that Brightcove hopes developers who use the free version will upgrade to the new App Cloud Pro edition, which adds more sophisticated analytics, push notifications and native advertising, for US$99 per month. 

However, the large user base that making the technology free is likely to generate, will also be beneficial in terms of creating a rich ecosystem. “We want to build a broad and active developer community around the App Cloud technology so that the technology is broadly tested in a wide variety of scenarios,” Whatcott said.

The App Cloud Core SDK also includes a new API allowing publishers to build dual-screen apps for the Apple TV platform. The technology supports apps that provide full-screen video and interactive content that can be controlled by iPhone and iPad devices via Apple’s wireless AirPlay technology and Apple TV.

“We’re seeing significant changes in how TV and film content is presented in the future. We want to be at the forefront of what people are doing with apps,” Whatcott told Mobile Apps Briefing.

“We’re making it very easy to take advantage of these capabilities and putting all of the pieces together in a way that makes it very achievable to deliver these kind of experiences with a limited amount of resources,” he added.

An App Cloud Enterprise edition is also available for high volume apps – starting at 100,000 user sessions per month – and costing US$15,000 per year. Customers of this version include NBC Universal and Fox.