Apple Adds Support for Four New Single Sign-On Providers Ahead of iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 Release

[MacRumors]

Apple is continuing to add new providers to its Single Sign-on feature in tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2, and today introduced Single Sign-on support for four new providers: CenturyLink Prism, Hawaiian Telcom, MetroCast, and GTA (available in Guam). GVTC Communications, previously listed as a Single Sign-on option, has been removed.

With the new additions, when tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2 become available for the public, Single Sign-on will be available for eight cable subscription options: DirecTV, Dish, Hotwire, Sling TV, CenturyLink Prism, Hawaiian Telcom, MetroCast, and GTA. Apple will continue adding support for additional providers as it manages to secure the necessary deals.

Single Sign-on allows Apple TV and iOS users to enter their cable credentials once and then sign in to all available live cable content, even across multiple apps. Single Sign-on works automatically when you have a cable subscription through a participating provider, prompting you allow a compatible app to use your sign in credentials.

Many cable channels offer individual apps on the Apple TV and iOS devices, but still require cable authentication to access content. Without Single Sign-on, users need to enter their cable information for each app, a process that's a huge hassle.

Apps that take advantage of Single Sign-on and user cable subscriptions will be easier to find and track in tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2, with content located in the new "TV" app that's been introduced.

We expect to see tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2 introduced to the public next week alongside macOS Sierra 10.12.2 and watchOS 3.1.1.

Article Link: Apple Adds Support for Four New Single Sign-On Providers Ahead of iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 Release

 

[bpeeps]

AT&T, Comcast, and Spectrum continue to be elusive I see.

 

[robust]

I expect that once Frontier Communications finally gets a handle on their basic services, they may allocate time for this. Of course I'll be dead by then.

 

[jmh600cbr]

why not canada?

 

[slimothy]

It will be public today.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Good job Apple. What’s the big announcement next week? That Western North Dakota signed up?

 

[konqerror]

This can be a new series along with Apple Pay. Some middle-of-nowhere apartment provider is now on TV SSO!

 

[TimCookMustGo]

why not canada?

Another great question for Tim Crook.

 

[Rogifan]

DirecTV. Sweet!

 

[kugino]

hawaiian telcom? haha...possibly the smallest provider, but will gladly take it. love them...awesome fiber speeds and great prices. glad to see they're being proactive and forward-thinking...

 

[69Mustang]

The more the better. Single sign on should be SOP for all streaming devices.

 

[FreeState]

AT&T, Comcast, and Spectrum continue to be elusive I see.

AT&T owns DIRECTV.

 

[profets]

I guess this is the slow and steady march to change the way we consume TV.

 

[HiVolt]

why not canada?

Because Apple never relases anything useful here in Canada when they release it in the US...

But just like with Apple Pay, I don't think they would get very far with our Cableco/Telco mafia that controls all the broadcast media.

Besides, I don't quite get this... If people already have this stuff on their subscription cable boxes, who cares if it's on their Apple TV?

 

[2457282]

ATT owns DirectTV and UVerse, yet one now works and the other does not. Strange.

Comcrap will drag its feet like always.

Where is Verizon with Fios?

 

[topdrawer]

omg, i can't believe i'm so excited about not having to do the activation codes.

 

[FreeState]

ATT owns DirectTV and UVerse, yet one now works and the other does not. Strange.

Comcrap will drag its feet like always.

Where is Verizon with Fios?

Uverse as a TV platform is being faded out in favor of DIRECTV according to the technician that switched us from Uverse to DIRECTV.

 

[jetjaguar]

^ where is Verizon

 

[quietstormSD]

Not sure why AT&T U-Verse is not on there and DirectTV is. AT&T owns DirectTV

 

[liven2]

Xfinity / Comcast is holding out. Not surprised

 

[protox]

How does Single Sign On work if you use different accounts? I'm on TWC (Spectrum) but since TWC doesn't have deals with Disney, I use my Sister in laws account (Optimum) to stream Disney and other channels that TWC doesn't have deals with and for HBO and Showtime, I use my Father in laws TWC account since they just have local channels and Showtime and HBO. Will I have to always sign in and out of accounts? Because right now, I just sign into whatever streams I need once and that's that and it'll always work.

 

[blacktape242]

Xfinity / Comcast is holding out. Not surprised

beat me to it.

 

[TehFalcon]

Still waiting on Xfinity..... seriously come on. They are the biggest and yet not on there.

 

[larrylaffer]

How does Single Sign On work if you use different accounts? I'm on TWC (Spectrum) but since TWC doesn't have deals with Disney, I use my Sister in laws account (Optimum) to stream Disney and other channels that TWC doesn't have deals with and for HBO and Showtime, I use my Father in laws TWC account since they just have local channels and Showtime and HBO. Will I have to always sign in and out of accounts? Because right now, I just sign into whatever streams I need once and that's that and it'll always work.

What will happen is, when you first try to sign into a specific app, it will ask for permission to use your SSO credentials. You'll then say no, and *hopefully* will be presented with the standard form to use whatever account you want.

It'll be mildly annoying, but at least you'll be able to keep using multiple accounts.

 

[marco114]

Of course, Uverse always gets the shaft. AT&T sucks