FAQ
Q: Do I need to sign a license agreement to use DIAL?
A: No, however if you are a developer of 1st screen apps, you must register your app names (see About the Registry) and follow the correct use of the DIAL mark (see Use of the DIAL Mark)
Q: Is there a cost or royalty structure for using DIAL?
A: No. The DIAL protocol is free for anyone to use subject to terms described in the DIAL Protocol Specification.
Q: Do I need to publish the DIAL copyright notice and license text in my product documentation or product web pages?
A: Yes. See the license section of the DIAL Protocol Specification for details, and note that there are different requirements for redistributions of the specification, source code implementations, and binary implementations based on the specification. Also see Details for Developers.
Q: Can any 2nd screen app launch any 1st screen app in the application name registry?
A: Yes, however because the scope of DIAL only includes discovery and launch, DIAL does not provide further means of communication between 2nd screen and 1st screen apps. Any interaction beyond discovery and launch would require a mutually agreed 2nd screen to 1st screen communications protocol, which is beyond the scope of DIAL.
Q: Does DIAL involve pairing or authentication?
A: No. DIAL is a simple mechanism for discovering and launching applications on a single subnet (typically a home network). It provides a function much like that of a remote control. A valid DIAL request is handled by the device just as any valid IR signal.
Q: What happens to the running app when another app is launched via DIAL?
A: The device starts the app just as it would if the app were started locally from the device, or from a remote control. Technical details of app startup are implementation specific, but running processes are usually stopped or moved to the background.
Q: Is the DIAL protocol specification and sample code redistributable.
A: Yes. Refer to the specific license terms in the specification and sample code.
Q: If I register an app name in the DIAL registry, will 1st screen devices like TVs automatically be aware of my app?
A: No. DIAL saves you the work of designing a mutually agreeable discovery and launch protocol, but you still must engage with device manufacturers directly to get your 1st screen app on their devices.
Q: Can I use DIAL on my 1st screen app to launch my web app's URL on the 2nd screen device via its browser?
A: Maybe. You need to work with the device manufacturer to see if the device's browser can accept input parameters (such as a URL) via DIAL, and whether the browser supports the feature set your web app requires.
Q: Can I reserve an app name (or prefix) for an app I haven't finished yet?
A: No. The DIAL app name registry is only used to identify existing apps. You may reserve an app name prefix that you can use with future apps, however you must have at least one app available in a public marketplace at the time you register.
Q: Do I need to register my 2nd screen apps?
A: No. The registry is only needed (and useful) for 1st screen apps that can be launched from 2nd screen apps.
Q: Who created and maintains DIAL?
A: DIAL is maintained by Netflix and YouTube with input from a variety of partners.