Television is one form of media that everyone is looking to integrate with the latest upsweep of connected devices.  TV is still used by more people compared to computers and mobile devices, and companies are now integrating TVs and the internet to capture as large an audience as possible, spanning two mediums of popular communications.  Some companies have even tied up with streaming service providers to get that “umph” that they think would give them an edge against competitors.

Google TV is Google’s Smart TV platform that bridges the gap between internet and TV.  It failed to catch on in the US when it was launched October of last year and now it’s attempting to catch a break in Europe.  Google Chairman Eric Schmidt announced the Europe launch during his keynote speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

“Just as smartphones sparked a whole new era of innovation for the Internet, we hope Google TV can help do the same for television, creating more value for all,” Schmidt said. “We expect Google TV to launch in Europe early next year, and of course the U.K. will be among the top priorities.”

In Wally-World, Walmart’s acquisition of Vudu for $100 million last year may be the company’s biggest success in the internet content sector, as it is now the third most popular choice for movie streaming or rentals.

“The business we’re in today, offering first-run movies a la carte, is doing very well right now and has tripled so far this year.  It’s becoming very meaningful for our Hollywood partners, to the point where some have called us and asked whether we had made some kind of mistake, ” Vudu General Manager Edward Lichty said.

As far as cable and satellite providers go, they’re looking to web-connected devices for extended distribution as well.  This is a two-way street you know.  DirectTV has partnered with Sony to allow PlayStation users to stream live game coverage on their game consoles as well as other devices like the iPhone and iPad, BlackBerrys and Android phones and tablets.

And Apple is still rumored to be gearing up to launch the Apple TV or iTV, which will probably be launched in 2012 or 2013 but certainly not this year.  The rumored TV service will be integrated with iOS, which they think will revolutionize TVs the same way the iPhone revolutionized mobile phones.  Google, too, is looking for more integration points around Google TV, providing developer access last week.

With all these smart TVs coming out trying to integrate internet and the blessed television set, things are starting to get complicated.  It’s great to have internet connection on your TV for the sole purpose of watching movies through streaming or movie rental from service providers like Vudu, but with all the available mobile devices where you can check your e-mail, the news or your social network, would you really want to browse on your TV?

There’s certainly a balance to be reached, but already our perspective on TV’s fate has changed in the past two years alone.  Instead of becoming obsolete, the TV has become another point of interaction for our web-connected lives.  As more devices become connected, even beyond those with screens, we’ll come into a new era for content collection and distribution.  In the mean time, the TV will only get smarter, evolving in shape, size and accessibility.