Operators unify over push for more DVB-H handsets

The lacklustre uptake of mobile TV in Europe could be about to change with 15 operators and broadcasters agreeing to unify their requirements for handsets supporting the DVB-H standard. The companies want to see a significant increase in the number and variety of DVB-H handsets in time for the FIFA football world cup in Q2 2010.

The group behind the initiative, which lacks heavyweights like Vodafone, T-Mobile or Telefonica O2, is requesting that handset vendors provide updated details of their plans for DVB-H devices, in return for which it has offered to discuss the development of common handset requirements based on the bmcoforum (Broadcast Mobile Convergence Forum) published profiles.

Those involved, which include 3, Orange and Media Broadcast from Austria and Germany, 3 Italy, Antenna Hungaria, Dominanta and Kentavr from Russia, DStv Mobile from Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia and Kenya, Safaricom from Kenya, Digita from Finland, Info-TV-FM from Poland, KPN, Mediaquest and Smart from the Philippines, either run, or will shortly provide, DVB-H services and are becoming increasingly worried about the lack of meaningful roadmaps for new DVB-H phones.

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