Zentek to offer UDcast DVB-H products in Japan, Far East

UDcast has announced a strategic cooperation with Zentek, an integrated solutions provider for Digital TV, IPTV, wireless broadband, mobile phone and car entertainment devices, to provide the Japanese and Far East Asia markets with the mobile TV standard DVB-H.Under the terms of the non-exclusive cooperation, Zentek will act as the reseller and integrator of UDcast's DVB-H mobile TV products in these markets to bring the tools for Japanese manufacturers and Asian broadcasters enabling delivery of competitive products and services for this global standard.

In Japan, the equipment provided by UDcast and Zentek will enable manufacturers to develop and produce mobile phones, notebooks, chipsets, in-car TV receivers and other devices compatible with DVB-H technology. As the first result of their cooperation in the Far East, Zentek and UDcast provided the DVB-H solution for TV2Go, a Digital Mobile TV Broadcasting trial operated by PGK Media in Singapore, where Zentek was appointed as main system integrator and UDcast supplied the DVB-H network equipment.

The trial was announced June 19 during Broadcast Asia 2007. UDcast's equipment is also deployed in two Asian commercial Mobile TV networks (Vietnam and Philippines) and more than 10 trials in the Far East Asia region.

TDC & Viasat launch DVB-H test in Denmark

Viasat and TDC have launched a mobile TV test in Denmark using the DVB-H standard. Previously mobile TV in Denmark has only been made possible over the 3G network. The purpose is to give the two companies experience of the technology in the Danish market. Both companies already have international experience of DVB-H.
The tests using Nokia handsets will take place between now and July 15. Participants will be able to receive DR1, TV2, TV2 News, TV3, TV3+ and MTV Music.
“The test is […] important to us in light of the fact that the future gatekeeper most likely will be interested in offering DVB-H, which also means that it is a good idea to gain experience as to both technical requirements and consumer needs,” says Jette Jørgensen, CEO of Viasat’s sister company MTG New Media, which is carrying out the test on behalf of Viasat.
Transmission equipment has been installed at Lynetten in Copenhagen from where the signal will be able to cover central Copenhagen. One of the selection criteria is that the participants live in the central area. Both indoor and outdoor coverage will be tested.

EU Suggests Nokia's Mobile-TV Standard

The European Commission is supporting a standard based on Nokia Corp. technology for television broadcasting to cell phones in Europe, according to a draft document obtained by Dow Jones Newswires.
The commission, the European Union's regulatory arm, said the DVB-H standard is the "strongest contender."
Two other standards, T-DMB, which is used in South Korea, and MediaFlo, a technology pioneered by San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc are less prevalent, according to the commission, which noted that using a single standard is necessary to avoid "market fragmentation."
The commission said it plans to add DVB-H to the list of standards published in its official journal, meaning EU member countries will be required to encourage the use of DVB-H.

MiTV and Nokia to launch DVB-H mobile TV service

Nokia and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd (MiTV) will launch a commercial mobile broadcast TV service based on Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) technology in Malaysia in the second half of 2007.
The collaboration will see Nokia's many commercial mobile TV service rollouts utilising DVB-H technology globally, said MiTV Corporation chairman Datuk Rosman Ridzwan when making the announcement in conjunction with Nokia Connection 2007 and the Broadcast Asia 2007 conference and exhibition yesterday.

The announcement reinforces the new 3G entrant's delivery of Malaysia's first true mobile TV experience to the marketplace.
In the deal, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide MiTV's 018 mobile TV service an end-to-end deployment process which includes implementation, integration and application development services. It will also maintain MiTV's infrastructure on a turnkey basis.

Philippines DVB-H Mobile TV Services for Commercial Broadcast with PMSI and UDcast

UDcast and Philippine Multi-media System, Inc. (PMSI) announced today that test broadcasts of mobile TV services in the Philippines using the DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld) standard have been successful and will be commercially launched in 2007.
PMSI is currently showing eight channels on Samsung DVB-H compatible handsets, with additional handsets and unique programming to be available soon. The commercial service will initially launch in Manila and extend to other major cities.
"There are currently more than 42 million mobile phone subscribers in the Philippines, and consumer research confirms the appeal for mobile TV services today, with further strong growth potential in the future," said Mr. Cesar G. Reyes, CEO, PMSI. "UDcast provided PMSI with IP encapsulators that are powerful, flexible and stable, allowing us to implement various options that are critical to our future plans."

Nokia N77 : a DVB-H cell-phone

Nokia N77 multimedia computer starts shipping

June 11, 2007

Live TV in your pocket

Espoo, Finland - Finland is the first to experience optimized mobile TV with the Nokia N77 multimedia computer. Later this month also Vietnam and India will start shipments of the Nokia N77. Consumers will now be able to keep up to date with news and sports and enjoy their favorite TV shows live on the move*. The affordable Nokia N77 comes in a stylish and pocketable form factor with complete Nokia Nseries functionalities.

"The Nokia N77 takes TV out of the living room," said Jonas Geust, head of Nokia Nseries Players Category, Multimedia, Nokia. "The wide 2.4" flat screen and high quality stereo sound makes it the ideal personal mobile device for enjoying TV programs on the go."

The dedicated TV key on the Nokia N77 gives users direct access to a world of TV programs. It even remembers the last channel viewed when switched off the TV. Viewers can also set reminders to alert when a program is starting and access it at the push of a button.

The Nokia N77 also offers the advantage of 30 second replay and live TV watching continues after the replay clip. Through the Program Guide in the mobile TV application viewers can see program information up to seven days, browse TV channels, purchase new channels if desired and select the TV program they are interested in.

With practically all the features people would expect from a true Nokia Nseries multimedia computer, including MP3 player, 2 megapixel camera (1600 x 1200 pixels), web browsing, email access, calendar and to-do lists, the Nokia N77 is much more than just live TV and entertainment - it's the key to an entire world of multimedia computing.

The Nokia N77 is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS and is offered in markets where commercial mobile TV services based on DVB-H technology are available.

For more information on mobile TV, visit www.nokia.com/mobiletv

Mobile-TV: TVI Portugal and Vodafone Portugal Complete Successful Trials With DVB-H Solutions from Thomson

SmartVision service platform and Mobile TV head-end from Thomson used by Portugal’s largest broadcaster and Vodafone Portugal

Paris, France, 14 June, 2007 –TVI Portugal and Vodafone Portugal have completed successful trials of digital television broadcasts to mobile phones using Thomson’s (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS) SmartVision™ interactive service platforms and Mobile TV head-end products, Thomson’s Argos mobile TV encoders and Opal™ DVB-H IP encapsulators.

TVI Portugal is Portugal’s largest broadcaster in terms of viewer ratings while Vodafone Portugal is the country’s second biggest telecommunications operator.

The trial consisted of eight live channels broadcasted by DVB-H to panel of users with mobile phones from Samsung. “As the operator, our dual goals were to obtain a first level of feedback from our customers on user experience and to test the technology itself,” said António Carriço , Director of Global Products and Innovations for Vodafone Portugal.

“Mobile TV has been a key service for Vodafone Portugal since its launch in 2004 and DVB-H technology is one of the next milestones in the path of our customer’s satisfaction. We are very satisfied with this pilot test phase.”

“We chose to test Thomson’s DVB-H broadcast head-end equipment and SmartVision services platform with ESG (Electronic Service Guide) management for their proven track records and fast implementation,” said José Nabais, CTO of TVI Portugal.“The Portuguese market represents a particularly interesting opportunity for launching new mobile services as the population are strong users of mobile phones,” said Jacques Dunogué, Thomson senior executive vice president in charge of the Systems Division . “More than 60 % of all voice calls made in Portugal are made using mobile phones whilst the European average is only 43%. Thomson is well placed in this promising market, and our participation in most mobile TV trials gives us a unique experience .”

Doordarshan launches mobile TV on cellphones

Doordarshan has launched mobile TV on cell phones and has commenced the beaming of eight channels. These channels are available within the radius of 10 to 12 kilometres from Akashvani Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi, on the digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) compliant mobile handsets. The channels currently being beamed are DD National, DD News, DD Sports, DD Bharati, DD Urdu, DD Punjabi, DD Bangla and DD Podhigai.

The service, which will be available from 5.30 am to 12 pm, will be available without any billing by any mobile service provider.

Mobile phone majors such as Nokia and Samsung have already announced their launch of DVB-H compliant handsets. At present, such handsets cost around Rs 35,000, and DD is hoping that mobile phone companies would also bring out low cost handsets, priced at around Rs 18,000.

Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, inaugurated mobile TV. The service will be expanded to 16 channels within six to eight months. After covering the entire Capital, the service will be taken to other metros within 18 months.

French DVB-H launch delayed to 2008

A conflict between French mobile operators and broadcasters led to a major delay in the launch of DVB-H services in France. The business model to adopt is at the centre of the argument. Broadcasters want an advertising funded free-to-air service while mobile operators insist that the service should be paid for. Discussions between both parties have shown no progress during the last six months. Previously, France expected to launch broadcast mobile TV services before the kick off of the Rugby World Cup this autumn. Those recent complications put the service deployment in a stand still and mobile operators are indicating that DVB-H based mobile TV won't be available before summer 2008.

O2 Ireland trials the DVB-H service

O2 Ireland along with broadcast solutions provider Arqiva announced the launch of DVB-H mobile TV trial in the Greater Dublin area. The trial will include 350 users that will use the high-end Nokia N92 smartphone, and will be able to watch such channels as RTE1, RTE2, TV3, Sky Sports, Sky News, Setanta Sports and The Discovery Channel.
The trial will run until 31st August 2007, and is designed to test and showcase the TV capabilities of next generation mobile services. Previously, O2 UK and Arqiva tested the mobile TV service in Oxford with great success.

Broadcast Australia trials DVB-H mobile TV (Thomson)

Broadcast Australia is hosting a new trial of DVB-H mobile TV services at its Gore Hill site in Sydney. The 3-month trial, which commenced transmission on May 7, is collaboration between the three companies: Broadcast Australia, digital video solutions group Thomson Grass Valley, and digital content protection specialist Irdeto, the trial license-holder.

"This trial has a number of key differences from previous mobile TV trials Broadcast Australia has participated in," said Martin Farrimond, Broadcast Australia General Manager Mobile TV. "These include the Grass Valley DVB-H head-end and the Irdeto OSF-compliant digital access and content protection system, which is an alternative to the 18C based platform used in our previous trials. In addition, the trial will test statistical multiplexing, a technique that allows more services to be distributed in any given bandwidth, thus making better use of any investment in a mobile TV network."

Currently, users participating in the trial have access to five mobile channels, including Australian public service channels ABC, ABC2, and SBS, plus Turner's CNN and Boomerang. However, the line-up could change as the end of the trial, scheduled for July 31, approaches. (via: cellular-news)

DVB-H mobile TV (Samsung & Nokia)

Samsung and Nokia have announced that they will work to achieve interoperability in their DVB-H mobile TV devices. The handset manufacturers will work together to support solutions based on the open OMA BCAST standard available for operator partners interested in deploying multi-vendor mobile TV services and trials in 2007 and beyond; the eminently sensible aim is to promote more and faster take-up for broadcast mobile TV.

Module tunes in to DVB-H, T-DMB SHARP

Sharp Corp.'s VA3B5EZ915 dual-mode tuner module is said to be the first device of its kind capable of receiving both DVB-H and T-DMB terrestrial digital broadcasts.

In Japan, One-Seg terrestrial digital broadcasts for mobile devices began in April 2006 and it is projected that total domestic shipments of One-Seg-compatible cellphones will exceed 10 million units by midyear. Similar services have begun worldwide, including DVB-H broadcasting in Europe and T-DMB broadcasting in Korea and some parts of Europe. Moreover, the market for terrestrial digital broadcasting for mobile devices is expected to grow outside of Japan as well.
Capitalizing on this growth, Sharp said that its device offers the industry's lowest power consumption at 43mW and boasts a compact, thin-profile package size of only 8-by-8-by-1.25mm and meets the demands for intelligent compact tuner modules for mobile devices.

The VA3B5EZ915 tuner module for DVB-H/T-DMB terrestrial digital broadcast reception features an output format IP packet and has receiving frequency spectrums (center frequency) with GSM interference removal filter built-in. It receives frequency for VHF (174-245MHz), UHF (474-746MHz) and L-band (1,450-1,492MHz and 1,660-1,685MHz).