O2 and NTL trial TV on mobile phones

Oxford will see the UK's first trials of multi-channel television on mobile phones next spring.

The trial is to be run by NTL's Broadcast division and O2. Around 500 people will be issued with a multimedia phone able to pick up 16 different TV channels.

"The TV channels have not been announced yet, but they will be highly branded and range from sports to entertainment," a spokeswoman for the project told vnunet.com.

Nine broadcast transmitters will be set up to cover a 120sq km area around the city.

Nokia and Sony Semiconductor & Electronic Solutions are currently developing prototype devices.

It is not known which of these devices will be chosen, but at the moment the concept is being demonstrated with a Nokia 7700 (pictured).

Whichever device is used, it will boast a built-in digital TV receiver that supports the DVB-H broadcast transmission standard for handheld devices.

Nokia will also supply the complete service system as well as the necessary e-commerce modules and interfaces to allow full-scale testing of the technical and commercial aspects.

The trial will test consumer demand for mobile TV services, and the perceived value of specific types of content and likely viewing habits that could shape an eventual service.

Terry Howard, head of media business development at NTL's Broadcast division, said in a statement: "We've performed extensive market research about consumer demand and viewing habits and it looks very positive.

"But these results need to be validated in a trial environment in conjunction with key players in the industry."

Dave Williams, O2's chief technology officer, added in a statement: "As a leading mobile operator in this field, O2 is able to add significant value to the mobile TV proposition, enhancing DVB-H based services whilst also stimulating usage of 3G data services."