Mobile & Wireless Roundup - Innovation & Industry News

According to an article at MoCo News
“The US is lagging the rest of western Europe in video usage. Only 36 percent of devices in the US are capable of receiving mobile video.
How can this statistic be made? Mobile TV is only mobile TV when it uses technologies such as DVB-H, DVB-T and DVB-S. Mobile TV over data is not mobile TV, it is a really poor user experience, and high data usage. Hence 36% of devices do not support true mobile TV. Once Mobile TV uses DVB technologies, then the update will be expected to increase as costs to the user “SHOULD” be none, as commercial sponsored channels cover this expense.

An excellent article has been posed on MocoNews.net by James Quintana Pearce which quotes Steve Smith from Mobile Insider, discussing why they think Mobile video content should not be charged for.
The general gist of the argument is that users are not used to paying for video based content. Although strictly not true, in the UK we pay a TV Licencing fee to the BBC to have ad free TV channels, we pay for DVD rentals, and Pay per View TV. However, most TV (and hence video based) content is free, and the user does not have to make a purchase to watch the channel or particular content item.

The article is available here:
http://www.moconews.net/entry/why-mobile-video-should-be-free/

I agree with the point that has been made, however, the approach to providing free content should be met with a choice. Users should be given the option as to getting FREE ad sponsored content, or paying for the item, but getting the original content. This could be taken a step further to then provide a higher quality content item for the paid for market.

An advantage to providing free content, with no DRM restrictions will also encourage viral marketing. Users forwarding the items to their friends and peers, and hence spreading the advertisements.

Like Mobile TV, when it finally gets released, the uptake will dependon the revenue models that will be associated with the channels. Commercials within the TV programs will generally be accepted if there is no charge to receive them.

Tags: MobileVideo, Mobile Content, Ad Sponsored

The DVB technology has been around for many years. In the UK, DVB-T (Terrestrial) is in widespread use for its Freeview service, enabling digital TV services to most of the UK population.

DVB is not like current TV services found on Mobile in the UK currently, where it uses the networks Data service to stream the content. It actually is broadcast through the air like without the need for a radio signal to carry the data communication (GSM/CDMA).
However, in Korea, they have had DVB-S (satellite) in widespread use on the average handset for a few years now. Most devices released by Samsung/LG for the western market is frequently shipped as a reduced version of the Korean model. For example, the Ultra series by Samsung are known for their slimness, however, the Korean models also feature DVB. The LG Prada, recently released in Europe, has also a Korean release, again with DVB support.

DVB support is not limited to open air location in Korea either, it is fully functional on the Subways in Busan and Seoul. Relays re-broadcast the satellite signal deep underground to the mobile users on their daily commute.

So why do we, here in the UK, suffer this lack of functionality that many people desire so much. What the industry say is that they are still deciding on the correct protocol to use, DVB-H (Handset) is currently the proferred choice.

My opinion on this fact is different. I feel that the networks are able to draw a revenue stream from using data services to stream the TV. Also, in the UK, all television users must pay a license fee, on mobile devices, this will be harder to control, and a new payment or licensing model will have to be drawn up to support such a service.

Having seen how small the DVB chip is that supplies this functionality, there is no excuse that the device will compromise on ergonomics. As seen in Korea, they are able to fit this into a case less that 8mm thick!
I hope towards the end of this year, standards are finalized, and devices are shipping. Delivering entertainment to those bored commutes!

YouTube mobile has now become live it seems.

I have found the web address to be http://m.youtube.com

Initial impressions are poor. It seems that there is no device intelligence used, and it always delivers the same content to all devices (3GP). The web site is also not adaptive to optimise to the users screen dimensions, and so will cause issues for smalled screens, and become unreadable for larger screens.

Maybe this is just beta? I will watch this site with anticipation, as there is a huge potential here for the “Bored Now” mobile web users.