O2 plans trial run for mobile TV in Oxford |
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Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:05
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OXFORD: Some 400 selected mobile phone users in Oxford are to get a feel of what a mobile television is. Mobile phone company O2 is showcasing the service to this group next week when when they will be able to watch shows from BBC and BSkyB on their mobile phone screens.
Trials of mobile television shows have been on for some time now, but these are rather confined to short-period episodes. Telecom Italia, Hutchison Whampoa's "3" units, Orange and Vodafone offer selected live TV channels through streaming technology. But, the present trial, O2 and its partner Arqiva claim, will involve the first attempt to broadcast multi-channel TV direct to phones within the U.K. The selected participants will be using Nokia 7710 smartphone with digital video broadcasting (handheld) (DVB-H) transmission technology. The trial is free of cost.
O2's chief technology officer Dave Williams said the trial is intended to create a model for future development. He said mobile TV will need active involvement of operators, regulators, broadcasters and phone makers.
In a related development, BSkyB has announced that it is planning a service by which news and sports channels could broadcast their content to mobile phones early next year.
The Oxford trial will be one among 40 such trials worldwide to test the revenue and technology potential for broadcasting TV programmes on to mobile phones, said Williams, adding, however, the service can be expected to be commercially available sometime in 2009.
Nokia expects to bring out its DVB-H handsets in Europe next year. DVB-H bypasses mobile phone networks and broadcasts directly to handsets from TV masts. There are other technologies like digital audio broadcasting, which is being trialled by BT Group and Virgin Mobile and also phone companies in South Korea.
O2's six-month trial will allow users to watch 16 to 32 live, good quality channels over a DVB-H handsets that weighs 189 grams and is 128 millimetres long by 69.5 millimetres wide. The users are expected to give feedback on channels on offer, the device used, the sound and picture quality and whether the service is really needed.
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