mobitv

ALSO NOTED: FiberTower CEO; China Mobile on iPhone; and much more...

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> FiberTower names Kurt Van Wagenen new CEO. Article

> Virgin Mobile promotes David Messenger to chief administrative and corporate development officer. Release

> MediaFLO trials automobile TV. Article

> MobiTV launches optimized delivery server. Article

> China Mobile: Still no iPhone talks. Article

And Finally... LG inks its first movie tie-in: Iron Man. Article

ALSO NOTED: HP embeds Sprint; CTIA I.T. photos; and much more...

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> See photos from the events at CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment. Slideshow

> HP embeds Sprint data cards in laptops. Article

> MobiTV flips past the 3 million viewer mark. Article

And Finally... Sybase 365's mobile banking solution. Article

Content to go

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:22:26 -0400

Telephone companies are becoming TV providers to maintain their businesses in the face of landline loss to cell phone use. But the migration never ends. Cell phone providers are intent on transmitting video to handheld devices, as evidenced by the number of mobile content sessions coming up at CTIA's Wireless I.T. & Entertainment Summit in San Francisco Oct 23-25.

The mobile content movement doesn't necessarily portend a massive audience shift to 2-inch screens, however. Most television executives consider it additive, but the jury is still out.

There's nothing particularly new about mobile video. MobiTV announced its initiative years ago. ESPN jumped into mobile content provision early on with mixed results, and came back for a second round. Verizon launched mobile video in the form of VCast Video over its regular data network, then as VCast TV over the much more efficient and effective network offered by Qualcomm's MediaFLO.

For content providers of all flavors--broadcast or cable networks, IP video purveyors, even syndicators--mobile devices represent merely another platform. So it is that broadcast networks, which still have the highest ratings and therefore the most to lose from platform migration, nonetheless have plunged head-long into mobile content deals. Some of the deals involve shows specifically produced for the small screen, while others offer repurposed regular telecasts. It should be noted, however, that only one repurposed telecast--"60 Minutes"--is among the 20 highest rated shows, a list populated mostly by dramas and NFL games.

The networks have their collective toes in the mobile content market because they see, like everyone else, the potential to either gain eyeballs or herd them somehow back to the TV set. What has yet to be demonstrated is the demand for mobile video content. VCast Video initially launched as a $10 add-on. People shrugged, or took it for a month or two, and then shrugged. MediaFLO-enabled VCast TV is $13 to $25 a month, and it's not the only game in town.

iPhone users have YouTube content, which may lend itself more favorably to a small screen if one is inclined to pony up $400 for a cell phone. If so, it would make just as much sense to get a WiFi-enabled handset and watch YouTube videos the wireless broadband way.

Then again, wireless broadband could have further implications for telcos just now launching IPTV offerings, but substantial erosion is unlikely. As nascent as the mobile TV market remains, one thing holds true--people like to watch TV on a TV set. Just as YouTube video is painful to watch on a 52-inch HD plasma, so too is minimally converted, high-motion landscape footage wastefully watched on a cell phone. Cell phone TV is unlikely to take a huge chunk out of the traditional TV business, but telcos just getting into the space might want to consider an MVNO, just to be on the safe side. --Deborah

P.S. FierceMarkets will bring you all the news and scoops from the CTIA I.T. Show. We are the official online show daily for CTIA. We will deliver all the news in our regular issue and at a custom micro-site entitled "CTIA Live!" Click here to check out the website.

Motorola showcases mobile WiMAX handoffs

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Motorola teamed with Sprint yesterday to showcase the operator's Xohm WiMAX service in Chicago. During a cruise along the Chicago River, a group of media and analysts were able to experience live handoffs of WiMAX applications such as VOIP calls, video streaming and MobiTV. Later, the group saw a similar demo while driving at speeds beyond 50 miles per hour.

Barry West, Sprint CTO and president of the Xohm Business Unit, said that the company is on schedule to begin Xohm pre-commercial service in Chicago by year-end with commercial service in that city and other markets beginning in April 2008.

The media event was held in conjunction with WiMAX World USA conference, which is taking place in Chicago this week. FierceTelecom editor-in-chief Dan O'Shea is at the conference and will be providing live coverage from the show. Look for more stories from WiMAX World in tomorrow's issue and in our sister publications FierceBroadbandWireless and FierceTelecom.

For more:
- see this press release

See these related stories:
-Sprint outlines "Xohm" WiMAX plans. Article
-Xohm Steals the Spotlight. Editorial
-Sprint details WiMAX, PTT and femtocell plans. Article

Andrew Seybold: CTIA In Retrospect

Andrew M. Seybold — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:01:33 -0400

Last month's CTIA Spring show was bigger this year than last, which should come as no surprise with the continuing expansion of the wireless industry. There has been a lot of growth in content and services organizations targeting the wireless industry for their next delivery vehicle.

The industry has morphed from being technology-centric to one that uses wireless to deliver content. Part of this transition is attributable to the fact that wireless is being discovered by companies that have content they have been delivering via other forms of communications media, especially the Internet and television. These companies recognize the potential of wireless delivery and want to participate.

Mobile TV was one of the big attractions at the show. Verizon's VCast TV service, using Qualcomm's MediaFLO one-way network, was live in Orlando and almost anywhere I went with my VCast LG phone I was able to view the TV broadcasts being sent over the system. While MediaFLO has been chosen by both Verizon and AT&T, there were a number of other companies involved in mobile TV on the floor including MobiTV and Roundbox, and many companies that want their existing or new TV content to find its way to the wireless population including Viacom, CBS and Disney.

Location-based services were also a big deal at this show. We are seeing a number of devices capable of turn-by-turn directions using map technologies from TeleAtlas and NavTaQ. We are also beginning to see the addition of real-time traffic reports on top of turn-by-turn directions.

It seems that many of the financial institutions know that more than 50 percent of their customers now bank online and that those who are familiar with online banking will take to wireless banking quickly and easily. There were many examples of the integration wireless and finance on the show floor, including Clairmail, a company with a clientless system that is being rolled out by a number of financial institutions.

One problem the wireless community has recognized over the past few months concerns the amount of content available on each network. Customers continue to find it difficult to figure out what is available as well as to find specific content they want or need. This brings up the topic of smart search engines that are being implemented on many networks as well as many of the Internet companies that want to play in the wireless space.

The best of these I have seen is the Yahoo! Mobile search engine that finds what you are looking for within the context of a category you are searching. While you can find all of the typical links you would expect from most search engines at the bottom of the search results, the first entries you see are the ones most relevant to what you are doing. For example, if you search for Paris in general, you will see a listing of information about Paris the city. However, if you search in the entertainment category you will find information about Paris Hilton. Search results are concise and can be based on your location, so if you search for pizza you get a detailed listing of pizza shops nearby including their phone numbers and addresses, not just a bunch of links to follow. The folks at Yahoo! seem to really understand that the wireless Internet is not about simply moving the desktop wirelessly to a small screen--it requires a completely new user experience.

There were, of course, plenty of technology players on the show floor, many new customer devices, demonstrations of the next evolution of technologies (EV-DO Rev B, UMTS HSUPA) and even some next-generation technologies including UMB and LTE (the term "4G" is not being used to describe what is coming next). WiMAX was, of course, represented on the floor. However, while there are those who are still making grandiose claims for this new wireless technology, the wireless industry in general seems to be waiting to see real, deployed systems and is not that excited about claims from those betting their companies on WiMAX as the next big thing.

The show had plenty for everyone from chipsets (including Wireless USB chipsets) to towers, cell radios, IP-core back-end systems, VoIP demonstrations over wide-area wireless, new and exciting wireless devices and content--lots of content.

Wireless is no longer about technology, which is important to be sure, it is now about providing all forms of communications and entertainment to the person, no matter where that person happens to be. Nowhere was this more evident than on the CTIA Wireless 2007 show floor.

Andrew Seybold is an authority on technology and trends shaping the world of wireless mobility. A respected analyst, consultant, commentator, author and active participant in industry trade organizations, his views have influenced strategies and shaped initiatives for telecom, mobile computing and wireless industry leaders worldwide.

ALSO NOTED: Titan scoops up Ready; Daily Trivia; and much more...

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:01:30 -0500

> Titan scoops up Ready Mobile's MVNO assets. Article

> China Mobile posts record number of new users in one month--again. Article

> AT&T's wireless unit completes a two-year $1.3 billion investment in L.A. area network. Release

> Consumer groups say European carriers still charge too much for roaming. Article

> Sprint announced it will take a consulting role in the Middle East and North Africa region where Wataniya Telecom is rolling out push-to-talk services. Article

And Finally... Your daily dose of wireless trivia: After years of waiting, what popular television show's tech-obsessed fans finally got the coveted branded mobile phone on August 31, 2005? Hint: Viacom and Soma Mobile teamed up for the project. Submit your response here.

Yesterday's question: Sprint was the first Tier 1 U.S. operator to launch a real-time streaming mobile TV service. It was powered by Idetic, which later became known as MobiTV. What month and year did Sprint launch this service? Answer: November 2003. The first four correct answers came from: Bee Lee, Sprint; Jeff Lee, Proteus; Tom Park, Hands-On Mobile; Julie Ask, Jupiter Research

Sprint: WiMAX to launch in DC, Chicago first

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

As we noted earlier, Sprint said that Nokia would be the last major partner it announces for its WiMAX network buildout, and its first WiMAX launch sites will take place in Washington, DC and Chicago. Sprint exec Bin Shen also announced that Nokia would be given its own market to demonstrate its WiMAX technological expertise and equipment. Sprint also has deals with Motorola and Samsung for the project. Shen pointed to Nokia's Internet Tablet device as the type of handset Sprint expects will be popular in the year's ahead. The carrier and MobiTV are demonstrating streaming television through a WiMAX demo while at CES this week.

In other Sprint news, Leap Wireless' shares have fallen after The Street predicted a new pricing scheme from Sprint may have a serious impact on Leap's "all-you-can-eat" packages. Sprint is set to launch a trial of unlimited local calling through its Boost Mobile brand for a set monthly payment--if the price undercuts Leap's, the analysts believe the smaller carrier could lose some subscribers as a result.

While Sprint may be taking this opportunity to box out Leap, a report in The Wall Street Journal suggests that Sprint's rivals are all focused on stealing a bit of its market share. Analysts predict the churn will continue through Q1 and possibly beyond, however Sprint says 2007 will see positive subscriber growth.

For more on Sprint:
- read this Wireless Week article about WiMAX plans
- see this BusinessWeek article about Leap vs. Sprint
- and check out this WSJ article about Sprint vs. everyone else (sub. req.)

AT&T signs first "three screens" deal

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

AT&T inked a content deal with Tim Mcgraw's "Swampstock 2006" concert, marking its first "three-screen" content deal for the mobile phone, television and PC platforms. Also, Chase Card Services will sponsor the content across all three platforms. The concert and related elements will appear on AT&T's blue room website, the AT&T U-Verse and Homezone IPTV service and via Cingular Wireless. Chase's sponsorship includes banner ads on the blue room portal, air TV spots on U-Verse and Homezone and through wallpaper and voice tones on Cingular's deck. The programming launches early next month.

This is the first incidence of cross-platform promotional packages we have seen that includes a wireless component. Not to be outdone, Sprint and MobiTV announced today that MobiTV would be providing mobile TV services to Sprint's cable MSO partners, which will include live and on demand programming from cable television channels, an electronic programming guide and the ability to browse and purchase premium content channels. While the MobiTV release does not mention advertising, I bet their cross platform advertising deal is soon to follow.

For more on the "three screen" trend:
- read this press release from AT&T
- and check out this press release from MobiTV

Modeo may just go it alone

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:01:37 -0400

An interesting piece ran in The Register about the prospects of Modeo, the subsidiary of Crown Castle that is building a DVB-H network to wholesale to operators. The company is expected to launch in October, but hasn't wooed an operator and is expected to go it alone. Modeo has already indicated that it is targeting devices beyond mobile phones so that may be the route it has to take. Cingular Wireless was a hopeful candidate, but its soon-to-be parent AT&T and MobiTV launched a live TV subscription service for broadband. Cingular already uses MobiTV. Ask Cingular Wireless folks about DVB-H, and they inevitably roll their eyes. They aren't ready to make that foray now, since they are just cutting their teeth on this stuff. Still, Modeo's video quality was quite impressive from what I witnessed at the show.

To read more about Modeo's possible go-it-alone strategy:
- take a look at this report from Faultline that ran in The Register

ALSO NOTED: Sprint/WiMAX round-up; Nintendo DS users get Opera OS in Europe; and much more...

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:01:07 -0400

> Nintendo DS users get Opera OS in Europe. Article

> Sprint/WiMAX round-up: WiMAX Forum applauds Sprint's WiMAX announcement. Release

> Sprint/WiMAX round-up: MobiTV announces support for WiMAX. Release

> Sprint/WiMAX round-up: Nokia "congratulates" Sprint on announcement. Release

And Finally... Centuries old recipe for green paint may be key to next-gen microchips. Article

Editor's Corner

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:01:40 -0500

I will be shocked if Sprint Nextel doesn't announce a deal with IPWireless soon to deploy the company's TD-CDMA technology in the 2.5 GHz band. All the signs are there that Sprint is poised to announce an agreement with the company. In January, Sprint made an additional $10 million investment in IPWireless after making a $4 million investment last July. Carriers don't make investments in technology companies when they aren't interested in using the technology.

Today's announcement from IPWireless is another indication of Sprint's plans. MobiTV, which offers digital television to Sprint customers, has teamed with IPWireless to jointly develop next-generation mobile television delivery solutions that combine unicast technologies with IPWireless' TDtv multicasting. IPWireless launched TDtv last month, saying the technology allows 3G operators to use existing spectrum and infrastructure to offer mobile TV and multimedia services rather than creating deals with separate players or acquiring new spectrum. While IPWireless has said the target market of TDtv is Europe, remember that Sprint Nextel has said it will launch mobile TV in the 2.5 GHz band. Obviously, MobiTV knows someone big is going to adopt TD-CDMA and TDtv or it wouldn't be working with IPWireless. - Lynnette

Report: Users prefer MobiTV to VCAST

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 20:01:35 -0400

In its newest report, Strategy Analytics found that consumers rated Sprint's MobiTV service as a better experience than Verizon Wireless' VCAST service. Users preferred access to MobiTV's live TV rather than the pre-recorded "made for mobile" clips offered by VCAST. While VCAST was rated 22 percent higher than MobiTV for Audiovisual Quality, the majority of consumers were willing to sacrifice video quality for access to "live" streaming TV. The study also found that one-in-eight mobile handset users would pay $10 per month for unlimited mobile TV access, and that potential users are aware of barriers to access/download speeds, audio-visual quality issues and the impact of mobile TV on battery life.

For more on the mobile television study:
- scroll through this press release

ALSO NOTED: SBC signs on to Lucent, too; Nokia makes data over WiMax call; and much more...

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:00:41 -0400

> SBC signs on to Lucent data services, too; will BellSouth follow? Article

> Nokia makes its first WiMax data call in trial run. Article

> 3 plans to sell air time on its mobiTV network to advertisers. Article

> Cingular Wireless' net income up 56 percent. Article

And Finally... Scientists release a stratospheric balloon-based broadband service. Article

MobiTV debuts in Europe

Thu, 26 May 2005 20:01:38 -0400

MobiTV has launched its 3G mobile phone TV service in Europe. "Orange TV Powered by MobiTV" is now available to customers across the UK. The move marks the first launch of MobiTV in Europe and represents, according to MobiTV, its commitment to expand internationally. "Orange TV Powered by MobiTV" is initially offered on the Nokia 6680 phone, with additional handsets to be announced shortly, says the company. The initial channel lineup includes ITN News, CNN International, Cartoon Network, Toon World, Extreme Sports Mobile, Comedy Time, Fashion TV and 24x7 access to reality shows. Additional channels are set to be announced in the coming weeks. The company is charging a flat monthly fee of about $18 to access all channels for up to about 20 hours.

For more on MobiTV's expansion plans:
- read this Wireless Week article