DVB-H standard will allow much clearer pictures and up to 50 channels
Commercial mobile television services using the DVB-H standard will be launched next year, Nokia predicts.
Although some operators, notably 3, are currently broadcasting TV clips they are using the existing 3G network.
Nokia claimed that the new DVB-H standard will allow much clearer pictures and a selection of up to 50 channels delivered straight to the phone.
"Media houses will probably wait before developing content specifically for mobile phones to see how popular the services are," said Markus Lindqvist, director of server and network solutions at Nokia.
"The first services in 2006 will start in Italy and Malaysia. Broadly the market will take off for consumers by 2008."
Lindqvist added that four surveys taken worldwide by Nokia showed strong interest in mobile TV services. Those surveyed said that they would pay around €10 a month for unlimited access.
But these findings contradict research carried out earlier this month suggesting that 70 per cent of UK consumers do not want to watch TV on their mobiles.
Bob Fuller, chief executive at 3, said: "The mobile will never replace traditional television but it will enhance it. 3 and ITV share the belief that TV will be a major driver of growth in 3G usage."
However, all is not finalised in the mobile TV sphere as a standards war is looming. Trials using the competing DMB standard, developed from the digital radio DAB standard, are due to start in London early next year.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
We're Gonna Get It Anyway...
Let's face it, we're gonna get mobile tv whether we like it or not.
Every "innovation" that's been packed into a mobile phone was at the drive of the industry rather than demand - be it WAP, GPRS, MMS, cameras, mp3 players - whatever. How many phones can you buy right now which don't have most of these gizmos in them? And the first camera phones weren't very good, MMS was overpriced, WAP was just a turkey from go, mp3 players are variable at best - yet now we embrace them all (as a society - I personally don't use any of the above except GPRS).
So accept it, Nokia want us to have it, the mobile networks want us to have it, the advertisers want us to have it. We're gonna have it....
Posted by Mike, 24 Nov 2005