Next-gen mobile TV technology gets more backing

Chip makers IPWireless and ST-Ericsson have joined forces to develop a platform designed to lower the cost of building Integrated Mobile Broadcast (IMB) technology into smartphones.

IPWireless is one of the companies that pioneered the development of IMB. ST-Ericsson is now joining the push to allow operators to deliver TV to smartphones, laptops and tablets using IMB and frequency spectrum they already have, but so far haven't been able to take advantage of.

The first commercial IMB services are scheduled to arrive next year, according to IPWireless. In June, operators O2, Orange and Vodafone said they would conduct a joint U.K. trial to assess how mobile broadcast services can be deployed using a shared network infrastructure.

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Mobile Internet and E-mail Services Jump in Popularity among U.S. Consumers

Adoption of non-text mobile data services has exceeded 40% of the more than 70 million U.S. broadband households with a mobile phone service, according to Parks Associates’ new consumer study Mobile Convergence: Platforms, Applications, and Services.

Over one-fourth of mobile service users have adopted mobile Internet and e-mail services, eclipsing other mobile data ARPU drivers like mobile TV and music, indicating that carriers will have to win subscribers through more “practical” services first. The fast adoption of mobile social networking and navigation services, which have both exceeded 10%, also indicates carriers can be successful in deploying popular Web activities as revenue-generating data services on the mobile platform.

Non-text mobile data services are central to wireless carriers’ long-term plans for revenue growth. The strong growth in usage of mobile Internet, e-mail, social networking, and navigation during the past two years shows consumers are eager for mobile applications that offer convenience and rich features. Use of multipurpose devices like smartphones is another driver. Smartphone penetration will exceed 30% of broadband households in 2009. These 20 million households will be a perfect target for carriers to market their mobile data services.

Television Enthusiasts Can Get Their TV Fix as FLO TV Personal Television Mobile Device Debuts with Major Retailers

Consumers eager to watch their favorite television programs, sports and news while on-the-go can satisfy their mobile TV craving as the handheld FLO TV Personal Television hits shelves across the nation today. The much-anticipated device from FLO TV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, delivers live and time-shifted content via the award-winning FLO TV mobile TV service and will be available at Amazon.com, Best Buy, and RadioShack.

As part of the launch and for a limited time, FLO TV also announced that the first six months of subscription service will be bundled into the overall retail price of $249.99, after which point a monthly service subscription fee will be charged. FLO TV Personal Television is the first portable digital television to offer all these features in one package: dedicated portable television, live mobile TV from America’s best content providers, a dedicated, nationally available mobile television network, a capacitive touch-screen, long battery life, and an easy to share experience. The FLO TV service programming line-up may differ depending on distribution platform.

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Babelgum Mobile launches FREE TV services with Vodafone Customers

A free Web TV service, Babelgum Mobile combines the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive and social networking capabilities of the Internet.

Immediately launching a 6 month trial, Babelgum Mobile, a new Internet Mobile TV service allows Vodafone UK contract customers with mobile internet bundles to enjoy a wide range of video clips including film, music, comedy, animation, nature, travel and sports FREE of charge.

This mobile application is available to download from Vodafone live!, initially for contract customers with data bundles for the popular Nokia N96, N95 and 6210.

Known for its innovative, original programming, Babelgum Mobile's customers can access content that’s clearly Webinspired with the accent on interactive entertainment. Clips are short, fun, and unconventional and include viral videos.

Integrated with social networks and streaming via Vodafone's 3G Network, Babelgum Mobile allows users to share videos, vote for favorites, and participate in competitions.

For more information, visit http://www.babelgum.com/ .

Integrated DVB-T and Smart TVs as a Trend to Watch

I mentioned in yesterday's blog the interesting continutity between what I saw and heard at IDF and some of the netbooks shown at IFA. Now, it appears that there are some themes that will carry over from IFA and to the upcoming IBC conference, which begins on September 11. I've been getting news announcements the last week or so, and one from Avtrex caught my eye. They will be showing a product that leaverages DVB-T and brings functionality such as EPG, recording, and integrated media player capabilities to televisions (they mention DLNA support and bringing Web content such as YouTube to the television).

I saw a large number of televisions at IFA that implement DVB-T and provide advanced functionality - recording, PC-to-TV interaction, connection to Web content, etc. If a company was making TVs, it had at least one DVB-T-enabled set on display, and at least one model was a fully integrated set that included the EPG and DVR functionality.

I also thought that it was interested that were a number of mobile devices - including personal navigational devices (PND) that are using DVB-T for mobile TV applications. I came across this blog that highlights some of the navigational devices on display in Berlin. There were also a number of DVB-T radios at the show.

With the number of televisions that integrate tuner, EPG, and recording capabilities on display at IFA, it would seem that the service provider's hold on customers may be a whole lot more tenuous in Europe vis-a-vis North America. Despite tru2way deployments and the retail availability of set-top boxes here, I don't think we'll see the disappearance of the lease model for set-top boxes in the U.S. anytime soon. However, with terrestrial television much more prevalent in Western European countries than in the U.S., European consumers have much more of an option to ditch a television service provider by buying one of these smart TVs, getting their "freeview" channels, and having a broadband connection that can bring them some VoD-like content.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe to address mobile TV and other entertainment platforms and applications

While Europe has adopted a standard for mobile TV, this move actually makes it more difficult for operators to reap the benefits of this service sector, according to a new white paper from Parks Associates.

The research firm released No Way to Regulate: Mobile TV in Europe for its upcoming CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit. This event will take place on August 28-29 at the Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin and features panels and interactive discussions on advanced entertainment platforms and emerging applications for entertainment, home networking, and communications.

This new white paper highlights the challenges European operators face as they develop and deploy mobile TV services. European regulators have adopted the DVB-H as a mobile TV standard for Europe, but the paper asserts that this approach means operators are limited in their spectrum options and often cannot leverage established network infrastructure.

This market situation threatens what is a significant service sector. Mobile TV users, while small in number, are an important consumer segment, according to Parks Associates. They are more likely to own and purchase a variety of consumer electronics, more likely to subscribe to pay TV services, and generally have a more favorable attitude toward technology. Service providers will be able to command a premium in advertising to this consumer segment.

GDL: Entertainment 2.0 in Europe, a new study by Parks Associates, will further explore consumer purchase habits and service preferences for a variety of entertainment products and services, from traditional TV to advanced online video. The study features consumer surveys and country profiles of the top European markets.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit will include two panels, “The Evolution of Video Devices” and “New Connectivity Applications: Entertainment, Control, Home Networking, and Communications,” focused on the new opportunities and obstacles for companies in digital entertainment.

Prior to CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit, the WirelessHD Consortium will host a pre-show workshop on August 28, followed by a reception for CONNECTIONS™ Europe attendees. The summit concludes on August 29 with a tour of the Fraunhofer Institute’s Exhibits at IFA 2008, hosted by Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institute.