tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213857322024-03-07T11:56:45.017+02:00Gamdala Mobile TV BlogThis blog provides information and analysis of mobile TV products, standards, trials and commercial services. The blog is brought to you courtesy of Gamdala, the mobile multimedia consulting company.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-54979173267694017692008-08-03T12:55:00.002+03:002008-08-03T13:11:45.881+03:00Bad Week for Mobile Broadcast TVSome dark shadows on the future of dedicated Mobile Broadcast TV networks have been cast last week (thanks to Dick Pache for sending in the info).<br /><br />On Thursday, German press reported that the consortium that won a DVB-H license in Germany, and started transmitting on June 1st this year, is about to <a href="http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-operators-kill-dvb-h-in-germany/">shut down its DVB-H service</a>. The apparent reason is that the mobile operators in Germany, who failed to win the license, would not provide DVB-H handsets to support this service, and prefer instead to offer to their subscribers handsets that are capable of receiving free-to-air terrestrial Digital TV broadcasts using the existing DVB-T network. Vodafone Germany CEO <a href="http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-vodafone-germany-head-questions-pay-mobile-tv-model-cites-dvb-t">warned back in May</a> that DVB-T handsets were threatening the business model for DVB-H, and that Vodafone wouldn't offer DVB-H handsets with a TV subscription fee, since they would cause subscribers to pay less for other mobile services.<br /><br />And on Friday, Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in Japan said it would <a href="http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-toshibas-mobile-tv-subsidiary-mobile-broadcasting-corpoation-shutting/">shut down its satellite mobile TV service</a>, which has been in operation since Ocrober 2004. In this case, the Japanese free-to-air ISDB-T service (OneSeg) is blamed for the low popularity of the subscription-based satellite service. Over <a href="http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-shipments-of-japans-digital-tv-enabled-handsets-hit-20-million">20 million handsets</a> supporting ISDB-T have shipped in Japan in the last two years.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-6500481259519656362008-06-13T16:04:00.003+03:002008-06-13T16:14:24.533+03:00Mobilkom Austria Launches Hybrid UMTS/DVB-H MobileTV ServiceMobilkom Austria <a href="http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1676897/">is launching a new mobile TV service today</a> called A1 TV Plus. The service is unique in that it combines mobile broadcast TV using DVB-H technology, with unicast streaming over the UMTS 3G cellular network. The service will include 15 DVB-H TV channels, 7 UMTS TV channels, and 5 radio channels. Some of the DVB-H channels will also be available via UMTS outside of the DVB-H coverage area.<br /><br />The service is supported by the Nokia N77 handset, and will cost 9 Euros per month (viewing DVB-H channels will be free until the end of 2008). Mobilkom Austria is also offering its customers free viewing of 6 DVB-T channels (regular digital TV broadcast) on the LG-HB620 handset, and viewing the UMTS channels on a PC using the Huawei E510 HSPA modem.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-8377867571393442382008-06-03T15:33:00.002+03:002008-06-03T15:41:22.151+03:00KPN Launches Mobile Broadcast TV Service in the Netherlands<p>Reuters reports that KPN, the Dutch telecoms group, is <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/COMSRV/idUSL2978125520080529">staring to offer a mobile broadcast TV service</a> based on DVB-H technology this month. The service will cost 10 Euros per month, and will include 10 channels. Samsung and LG will supply the initial handsets to support the service, and a Nokia device will be added at a later stage. <br /></p>Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-57521736842685943652008-06-03T15:17:00.002+03:002008-06-03T15:33:03.376+03:0013 French Mobile TV Licenses Awarded<span id="ctl00_MainPlaceHolder_Abstract" class="article" style="display: block;"><p>CSA, the French media regulator, <a href="http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=620939">has awarded</a> mobile TV licenses to 13 TV channels. The French Mobile Broadcast TV service, using DVB-H technology, is expected to start by the end of this year. It is interesting to note that only two of the channels, EuroSport and CanalPlus will charge a subscription fee for viewing, while all the other channels will be included in the basic, "free" mobile TV package (part of the mobile subscription fee).</p></span>Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-52414440330908171702008-05-22T16:09:00.003+03:002008-05-22T16:20:22.025+03:00Mobile TV Possible Without 3G or Mobile Broadcast NetworksAccording to a new market research <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080521005048&newsLang=en">published this week </a>by Analysys Mason, mobile operators should look at the alternatives to delivering TV content to mobile devices, using WiFi and sideloading (transfer of content to a mobile device through a PC). Research on mobile TV has shown that many people use the service in their homes, where broadband network connectivity is available, and content can be loaded directly to mobile devices using WiFi, or sideloaded from a PC over Bluetooth or USB. Accessing Mobile TV content in this manner enables higher quality, less waiting time, and a challenge to mobile operator business models.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-24557659445091817152008-05-04T16:27:00.003+03:002008-05-04T16:32:22.434+03:00AT&T Launches Mobile Broadcast TV Service TodayAT&T is <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hPZhoVW_x9TZoKNy9zQAHbCV1vYQD90CNNN80">launching</a> its mobile broadcast TV service today in the USA, based on Qualcomm's MediaFLO technology. The service will be priced at $15 a month for 10 TV channels, and will be available in 58 markets. AT&T is also launching two new handsets today to support the service: The LG Vu and the Samsung Access.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-33694610637407736042008-03-30T11:12:00.004+03:002008-03-30T11:23:22.064+03:00AT&T To Launch Mobile Broadcast TV in May<a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2279779,00.asp">AT&T announced </a>that it will start offering a Mobile Broadcast TV service in the USA based on Qualcomm's MediaFLO technology in May this year. The service will include 10 channels, two of them exclusive to AT&T, and will be supported by two handsets: The Samsung Access and the LG Vu. Pricing for the service has not been announced.<br /><br />AT&T is the second provider of MediaFLO mobile TV in the USA, following Verizon who launched the Verizon Vcast mobile TV service one year ago. <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080329/SUB/336928574/1002/allnews">Verizon announced</a> that it will also add two exclusive channels to its service, <span class="cr_artbody">ESPN Radio and MTV Tr3s. However, Verizon has not released any subscriber numbers for its mobile broadcast TV service yet.<br /></span>Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-64745278698671992212008-03-25T08:33:00.004+02:002008-03-25T08:43:47.200+02:00Mobile Broadcast TV Users in Korea Reach 11 MillionTelecoms Korea <a href="http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5391&Itemid=2">reported yesterday</a> that as of February 29th 2008, the number of satellite DMB subscribers reached 1.31 million, and the number of terrestrial DMB users reached 9.69 million, giving a total of 11 million mobile broadcast TV users in Korea (I am using the term "users" for T-DMB since it is a free-to-air service, and not a subscription service).<br /><br />Monthly sales of T-DMB devices are in the range of 400-500K a month, meaning that by the end of March the number of T-DMB users alone will pass the 10 million mark. S-DMB growth is not reported in the article, but it seems that S-DMB has stalled in Korea since similar numbers were reported at the end of 2007.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-55431446845404179422008-03-23T18:05:00.002+02:002008-03-23T18:15:44.689+02:00Strand Consulting: No Business Model for Mobile Broadcast TV<a href="http://www.cio.com/article/198552/Only_Vendors_Can_Make_Money_From_Mobile_TV_Expert_Says">CIO Magazine quotes John Strand</a> from Strand Consulting providing a grim outlook for mobile broadcast TV services. Some of the highlights include:<br /><ul><li>Only Nokia and other vendors can make money from mobile TV today, because they can sell network equipment and phones.</li><li>Operators can't profit from mobile broadcast TV since consumers won't be willing to pay enough to make up for content costs.</li><li>The future of TV is on demand, so supporters of mobile broadcast TV are betting on a dying technology.</li></ul>Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-75188128541212381522008-03-18T09:15:00.004+02:002008-03-18T09:20:28.646+02:00EU Selects DVB-H As Preferred Mobile TV StandardThe European Commission <a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-23818518.htm">has selected the DVB-H </a>standard as the preferred technology for mobile broadcast TV transmissions in Europe. The commission will promote the standard in all 27 member states, in an attempt to establish a single market for Mobile TV. Member states will not be required, however, to ban other standards from their market.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-14469457885690309892008-02-14T09:40:00.003+02:002008-02-14T13:39:34.717+02:00PacketVideo Launches Mobile TV Add-on DeviceAt Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, PacketVideo is <a href="http://www.pv.com/press_releases/02_11_2008.html">demonstrating a mobile broadcast TV add-on receiver</a> which enables TV playback on any mobile device with WiFi capabilities. The device will be available in different versions for DVB-H, MediaFLO and WiMax, and is compatible with Nokia N-series, Apple iPhone and HTC Smartphone devices.<br /><br />S3 showed a similar add-on device by Nokia, which receives DVB-H and sends it to compatible mobile phones over Bluetooth. S3 is providing the DVB-H protocol stack for the Nokia N810 Internet tablet which supports the add-on accessory device.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-25916376988607282192008-02-06T11:28:00.000+02:002008-02-06T11:38:49.259+02:00Broadcom Enters Mobile TV Chip MarketBroadcom <a href="http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=1104194">announced yesterday</a> the BCM2940, a 65 nanometer mobile TV receiver chip which combines a dual-mode demodulator and tuner, and supports both DVB-H and DVB-T. Broadcom claims that the chip reduces power consumption by up to 40% and footprint by up to 30% compared to current solutions.<br /><br />This is Broadcom's first offering to the mobile TV chip market, which is already dominated by several players including DiBcom, Siano, TI, ADI, Qualcomm, Newport Media and others.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-91745495365613047512008-01-27T15:44:00.000+02:002008-01-27T16:00:07.566+02:00AT&T Mobile TV RumorsAccording to <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/SUB/575033275/1019">sources quoted by RCR Wireless News</a>, AT&T is planning to launch its own MediaFLO-based Mobile Broadcast TV service in the US next week, following Verizon's launch of the service last March. The service will launch on February 5th, and will include two additional exclusive channels, on top of the 8 basic channels which Verizon also offers. It will feature the LG Vu (CU-920) handset, which is similar to LG's Prada and Viewty handsets, priced between $200 and $250.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-91685489961780996162008-01-27T12:51:00.000+02:002008-01-27T15:59:25.945+02:00ABI Research: 462 Mobile TV Subscribers by 2012According to a new market research report <a href="http://www.abiresearch.com/abiprdisplay.jsp?pressid=1043">published by ABI Research</a>, the number of global subscribers to Mobile TV services is expected to reach 462 million by 2012, driven mainly by the expansion of 3G network deployment, and flat-rate pricing plans. ABI Research sees Asia-Pacific as the region with the most prominent growth, expanding from 24 million subscribers in 2007 to more than 260 million in 2012.<br /><br />It is interesting to compare these figures with the recent findings in a report titled "Mobile TV in Asia", published by the Cable & Satellite Broadcast Association of Asia, <a href="http://www.televisionpoint.com/news2008/newsfullstory.php?id=1201151708">as reported in TelevisionPoint</a>. According to the CSBAA report, the number of mobile TV subscribers in Asia will increase from 15 million in 2007 to 76.3 million in 2012, out of 156 million global subscribers. The most probable explanation for this difference is that the CSBAA report refers to Mobile Broadcast TV subscribers only, while the ABI Research report refers to total Mobile TV subscribers, including both cellular networks and mobile broadcast networks.<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:10;" ></span>Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-75802781066522902012007-12-18T15:13:00.000+02:002008-01-27T15:58:55.149+02:00French Mobile TV Subscribers Reach 1.2M<a href="http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/mobile/updates/mi-17-12-2007-RR-1/show">According to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ScreenDigest</span></a>, the number of mobile TV subscribers in France as of December 207 has reached 1.2 million. At the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Telecom</span> 2007 conference in Paris, Orange France reported a total of 1 million mobile TV subscribers, while <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SFR</span> claimed to have 200,000 mobile TV subscribers. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ScreenDigest</span> notes that both cellular operators have witnesses a subscriber growth of 40% in the last quarter, driven by the launch of unlimited data, video, TV and music plans.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-34607262407449408182007-12-04T04:45:00.000+02:002008-01-27T15:58:15.220+02:00Screen Digest: 140M Mobile TV Subscribers by 2011According to a new market research report titled "Mobile TV: Business Models and Opportunities" published by <a href="http://www.screendigest.com/reports/07mobiletv/press_releases_03_12_2007/view.html">Screen Digest</a>, there will be 140M mobile TV subscribers worldwide by 2011, and global revenues will reach 4.4B Euros. However, the report states that in the short term network operators are not expected to make much profit from the mobile TV services.<br /><br />In terms of business models, the report predicts that free to air services, that currently drive customer growth in Asia, will not be popular elsewhere since the business model behind these services is not proven. Therefore, 90% of the revenues in 2011 will come from subscription-based services.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-16648056694642586782007-11-29T09:15:00.000+02:002008-01-27T15:56:20.370+02:00Korea's Satellite Mobile TV Calls for HelpThe world's only satellite-based mobile broadcast TV service is in deep trouble. According to <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/11/117_14591.html">an article in the Korea Times</a>, TU Media which operates the S-DMB service in Korea has accumulated a debt that will reach 270 Billion Won (about $270M) by the end of this year. There are 1.2M subscribers to the service, but their number hasn't grown since this summer.<br /><br />One of the main obstacles for the service is regulation: The S-DMB service is not allowed to broadcast the main Korean terrestrial broadcast channels KBS, MBC, SBS and EBS. TU Media's request from the government to ease these regulatory restrictions has been unanswered, and their plea for additional funding from SKT, TU Media's largest shareholder, has also been declined. According to the Korea Times, there are reports that SKT may even withdraw from the S-DMB business in the near future.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-57045029169265780742007-11-01T08:45:00.000+02:002007-11-01T08:52:08.731+02:00Mobile TV License in Germany Awarded to T-Systems<a href="http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/mobile/updates/mi-29-10-2007-RR-2/show">Screen Digest reports</a> that T-Systems Media & Broadcast (TSMB), a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, has received a license to broadcast DVB-H in the UHF frequency band from the German Federal Network Agency. <br /><br />TSMB plans to start the commercial mobile TV service in spring 2008 in Hanover, and expand to the capitals of the 15 federal states by the end of 2008. According to the license terms, the broadcaster is expected to cover 90 per cent of the German population by 2015. Additional mobile TV broadcasting licenses will be awarded in Germany by the end of this year.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-59113009451261878502007-10-28T17:51:00.001+02:002008-01-27T15:57:39.594+02:00AT&T Delays Mobile TV Launch in the USAAT&T announced that it is <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/SUB/71026022/1019/allnews">delaying the roll out</a> of its planned MediaFLO mobile TV service in the USA to the beginning of 2008. Originally, the service was scheduled to start by the fourth quarter of 2007. The company didn't give a specific reason for the delay, other than stating that they want to make sure that the service meets customers' expectations.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-51621592037410977532007-10-25T14:22:00.001+02:002007-10-25T14:46:36.979+02:00Mobile TV Subscriber Forecast Breaks 2B MarkAccording to a new market research report <a href="http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c72581">published by Telecom Trends International</a>, the number of global mobile TV users will grow from 20 million today to over 2 billion by 2013. As far as I recall, this is the highest subscriber number forecast published by a market research firm to date. The previous record was set by ABI Research, who <a href="http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?id=1752">predicted last year </a>that the global number of mobile TV users will grow to 514M by 2011.<br /><br />The Telecom Trends International report also sets a record for mobile TV revenues, predicting that by 2013 the global revenues from mobile TV will reach $134.5B. This figure is more than 10 times higher than any other mobile TV revenue figure published by market research firms <a href="http://gamdala.blogspot.com/2007/04/80m-mobile-broadcast-tv-subscribers-by.html">in the past</a>.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-77107937668340387742007-10-10T10:22:00.000+02:002007-10-10T12:22:51.876+02:00Aloha Networks Sells Mobile TV SpectrumAloha Networks, the parent company of US Mobile TV operator HiWire, <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071009/20071009005780.html?.v=1">has sold its 700 MHz spectrum to AT&T</a> for $2.5B. It is not clear yet whether AT&T plans to use the spectrum for mobile TV broadcast services, or for wireless web access enabling combined voice/data/video services. It seems that the second option is more probable, since AT&T has already signed a deal with MediaFLO for using its mobile TV broadcast network. In that case, the deal signals another hit to the global mobile broadcast TV market, after the <a href="http://gamdala.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html">shut down of the Virgin and Modeo services </a>earlier this year.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-58439538719249827232007-09-30T16:57:00.000+02:002007-09-30T17:43:06.318+02:00The Ups and Downs of Mobile TVMobile TV has always been a controversial issue. The big players who sell handsets, network equipment and mobile services, keep taking the optimistic side, and pushing the analysts in that direction. On the other hand, there are always people who ask "Who would like to view TV on a a tiny screen, and pay for it?". In the last few weeks it seems that the debate is shifting more to the negative side, especially when discussing subscription-based mobile TV services.<br /><br />Still on the optimistic side, <a href="http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2199369/mobile-tv-spending-exceed-6bn-2012">Juniper Research is predicting </a>that the number of users who receive mobile broadcast TV services will increase from 12M in 2007 to 120M by 2012, with service revenues expected to exceed $6.6B. And France is pushing forward with the introduction of <a href="http://www.rapidtvnews.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1992&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1966&hn=rapidtvnews&he=.com">Mobile TV services in the summer of 2008</a>, just in time for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.<br /><br />The launch of DVB-H in France during 2008 follows the introduction of DVB-H in Italy during the 2006 Soccer World Cup, and in Finland during 2007. While the Italian service enjoyed a high adoption rate initially, the latest reports show that service uptake has flattened. And the service in Finland was stalled for several months due to the lack of compatible handsets and compelling content. The situation in Europe is quite inline with <a href="http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=41934&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10&view=news">Gartner's recent survey</a>, which found that only 5 percent of European subscribers are interested in watching video or TV on their phones.<br /><br />Industry analysts have also shifted their positions in view of the market situation, demonstrated by the <a href="http://gamdala.blogspot.com/2007/07/virgin-and-modeo-discontinue-their.html">discontinuation of mobile TV services</a> offered by Virgin and BT Movio in the UK, and by Modeo in the USA. The EE Times says that Mobile TV chip makers <a href="http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201806942&pgno=1">"struggles to hold on"</a>, as the market has proven successful only in countries that offer free-to-air broadcasts (Japan and Korea). Stephen Wellman from Information Week asks <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/08/when_will_anyon.html">"When Will Anyone Actually Watch Mobile TV?"</a>, claiming that small screens and poor marketing have probably killed the service, although service providers in the USA don't reveal any numbers. <br /><br />Mike Masnik at TechDirt writes about <a href="http://techdirt.com/articles/20070920/182233.shtml">"The Ongoing Blind Belief In Mobile Broadcast TV"</a>, stating that mobile users don't have the time for watching broadcast TV programs, and would prefer short video clips on demand instead. He also says that people can broadcast their own TV from home, and watch it on their mobile device using a SlingBox and an unlimited data plan, meaning they don't have to pay mobile operators for such services. Indeed, <a href="http://mobilitysite.com/2007/09/sling-media-launches-slingplayer-mobile-for-symbian-os/">the introduction of SlingPlayer Mobile for SymbinOS</a> is likely to be a disruptive move in this direction. Russel Shaw at ZDNet takes the same position, claiming that "<a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2400">Mobile TV is So Overhyped</a>".<br /><br />So what's your take on the future of mobile TV, and in particular subscription-based Mobile Broadcast TV services? Please comment on this post to voice your opinion.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-17995430931469998262007-07-29T19:02:00.000+03:002007-07-29T19:21:55.201+03:00Virgin and Modeo Discontinue their Mobile TV ServicesBT Movio and Virgin have decided to <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2809216.ece">pull the plug</a> on their DAB-IP based service,which was <a href="http://gamdala.blogspot.com/2006/09/bt-movio-and-virgin-mobile-launch-dab.html">launched in the UK</a> last October. Among reasons cited for this action are lack of user acceptance, lack of compatible handsets, and the decision by the European Union to back the rival DVB-H technology.<br /><br />In the US, Crown Castle decided to <a href="http://rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070724/FREE/70723009/1019">stop the DVB-H Mobile TV service</a> of its Modeo subsidiary, and to spin-off the company by leasing the spectrum and the assets it owns to two venture capital firms. Crown Castle did not provide any reasons for this step, but it is probably related to Modeo's failure in getting any mobile operator on board its service, and the success of the rival MediaFLO service which has been adopted by Verizon and AT&T.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-52440330493700400562007-06-24T16:21:00.000+03:002007-06-24T16:26:59.707+03:007.3M Mobile Broadcast TV Users in JapanScreen Digest <a href="http://www.screendigest.com/online_services/intelligence/mobile/updates/mi-22-06-2007-RR-1/show">reported this week</a> that the total number of Mobile Broadcast TV handsets sold in Japan has reached 7.3M by the end of Q1 2007, according to official numbers released by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JEITA</span>). Japan launched its own standard for Mobile Broadcast TV, called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ISDB</span>-T or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OneSeg</span>, in April 2006.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21385732.post-87992400608714226762007-06-19T09:53:00.000+03:002007-06-19T10:15:24.784+03:00APAC Mobile Broadcast TV Market Heating Up<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Serveral</span> announcements made this week at <a href="http://www.communicasia.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CommunicAsia</span> 2007</a> and <a href="http://www.broadcast-asia.com/">Broadcast Asia 2007 </a>in Singapore signal a wave of upcoming trials and commercial services of mobile broadcast TV in the Asia-Pacific region.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MiTV</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nokia</span> announced that they will launch <a href="http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=39801">a commercial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DVB</span>-H service in Malaysia</a> in the second half of 2007. The infrastructure for the service will be integrated and maintained by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Nokia</span>-Siemens Networks, and the first handset to support the service will be the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Nokia</span> N77.<br /><br />Philippine Multi-media System, Inc. and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">UDCast</span> announced that <a href="http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070618006473&newsLang=en">a commercial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DVB</span>-H service in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Philippines</span> </a>will also be launched this year, following a successful trial held in Manila. During the trial, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">PMSI</span> is broadcasting 8 TV channels to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Samsung</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">DVB</span>-H handsets, but the variety of both channels and devices is expected to increase at the time of the commercial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">service</span> launch.<br /><br />And in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Hong</span> Kong, cellular operator <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">PCCW</span> will conduct <a href="http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2007/06/18/41618/Qualcomm+trials+mobile+TV+in+Hong+Kong.htm">a technical trial of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Qualcomm's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">MediaFLO</span> technology</a> which will run through November this year. Another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">MediaFLO</span> trial is currently underway in <a href="http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releases/2007/070304_china_network_systems.html">Taiwan</a>, run by China Network Systems and Taiwan Television Media.Dror Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01986687196273575057noreply@blogger.com0