While some of the big manufacturers have invested heavily in internet enabled TV's, web connectivity for many could sneak through the back door via Blu-ray.

While the likes of Samsung, Sony and Panasonic have developed a range of innovative web enabled TV's for 2010, and in Samsung's case, an app store to go with them; internet connectivity through a Blu-ray player could emerge as a more popular route to the joys of the web.

IMS Research, a UK based company, have discovered that by 2015, more than 473 million homes will have web connected devices in their living rooms. Of this number, a significant proportion will have Blu-ray players with some form of internet connectivity.

Some 28 million Blu-ray players will ship in 2011, with all of the big manufacturers implementing a built-in web strategy to their latest players.

We are now taking for granted access to the likes of YouTube, Blockbuster and Netflix through Blu-ray. Sony's latest Blu-ray deck for example, the BDP-S760, along with LG's BD390 both with wi fi connectivity offer easy access to content on the web and your PC.

The biggest advantage that these players enjoy is price. While the innovative net TV's hitting the showroom floors in 2010, with features such as built-in Skype, will undoubtedly be very appealing, how many of us will be prepared to invest?

With the Blu-ray Disc Association having just released their Blu-ray 3D specification and the sustained drop in price, many of us will view high definition players as a good way to dip our toes into the connected world via TV. While manufacturers are promising big things for their web enabled TV's not all of us are convinced they will deliver fully, just yet ...

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