After a year of average sales, the smart TV market is expected to explode in 2012 as Samsung (News - Alert), LG, Panasonic and Sony throw all their weight behind connected models. Analysts have estimated that as many as 10 percent of all flat-screen sales in 2012 will be of the smart TV variety.

Samsung is particularly bullish on the smart TV segment, and is projecting to sell as many as 25 million units in 2012, the company's television head, Kim Hyun-Suk, told reporters earlier this month. This is a particularly aggressive goal considering Samsung overall estimate for flat-screen TV sales in 2012 is 50 million units.

Last month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had a particular emphasis on connected televisions with dozens of new models set to hit the market in the coming weeks and months. LG and Samsung led the charge, unveiling models with voice commands, motion control software, built-in cameras and faster processors, further blurring the line between televisions and computing devices.

Telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) has also been stirring the pot with its ng Connect Program, an innovation ecosystem with more than 125 member companies that is pushing a more connected lifestyle.

The French company used CES (News - Alert) as a venue to show off its Next-Gen TV service, developed with help from the France-Presse (AFP) and Intamac and Alcatel-Lucent, and showcased on a Samsung smart TV. The concept is to offer connectivity options and richer interactive services without the need for an accompanying set-top box.

Alcatel-Lucent and the ng Connect Program showed off a number of other connected services at CES, including a cloud-based fitness app, an interactive location-based mobile game and a classroom teaching application for mobile tablets.

TMC (News - Alert) CEO Rich Tehrani was on hand at CES 2012 stopped by the Alcatel-Lucent tent for a quick demo of the ng Connect lineup. For more, check out TMC’s library of CES videos from the show.