Overview

DIAL—for DIscovery And Launch—is a simple protocol that second-screen devices can use to discover and launch apps on first-screen devices. 

                           Tablet, Phone etc.                                              TV, Set-top box, Blu-ray etc.

For example, suppose you discover a video on your mobile app and want to play it on your connected TV.

Without DIAL

• 1. Launch the apps menu on your TV with the normal remote control.

  2. Navigate to the TV app.

  3. Launch the TV app.

  4. Navigate to the pairing screen on TV app.

  5. Launch and navigate to the pairing screen on Mobile app.

  6. Input 9-digit pin on Mobile app. 

  7. Tap the Play on TV button on the Mobile app.

With DIAL

• 1. Launch the Mobile app.

  2. Tap the Play on TV button on the mobile app.

For consumers, DIAL removes the pain of having to launch the required app on the first-screen before interacting with it from their second-screen. DIAL does not have any significant impact on the second-screen's battery life and the only requirement is that both first and second-screens are connected to the same home network.

For device manufacturers, DIAL increases usage of applications on their first-screen products (TV, set-top, Blu-ray, etc.).

For app developers, DIAL helps link their second-screen app to their first-screen app without requiring a manual launch or pairing process by the user.

See the DIAL Protocol Specification for more discussion of typical use cases.