MobiTV integrates broadcast, cellular networks for seamless mobile TV service

MobiTV integrates broadcast, cellular networks for seamless mobile TV service

MobiTV

MUMBAI: Mobile video service provider MobiTV Inc, said it has successfully integrated today's cellular networks with new forthcoming DVB-H technologies to deliver live and on-demand television via both unicast and broadcast networks in one seamless unified service solution.

MobiTV chairman and CEO Phillip Alvelda said, "One of the most important lessons we have learned from operating this live TV network for mobile phones over the past few years, is that the future of mobile television requires a multinetwork offering that hides all of the multinetwork complexity from the consumer. This astounding new technology allows us to extend the MobiTV solution that has been so successful over the last few years to encompass any of the new broadcast TV delivery standards and address capacity, interactivity and quality requirements all at the same time."

Cellular and broadcast networks address different usage scenarios. While broadcast and multicast technologies address concentrated demand for the most popular content, cellular networks provide a dedicated connection which enables carriers to offer personalized content and integrated mobile-commerce. Combining network infrastructures allows operators to take advantage of the strengths of each to deliver consistently high-quality media content to consumers, said MobiTV executives, according to an official release.

"As usage grows and the number of customers using mobile television grows, networks will require careful capacity management through co-existing solutions such as unicast, in-band multicast and DVB-H solutions. If broadcast technologies are needed in the future, we believe the ideal solution for operators and subscribers is a system that seamlessly leverages and combines the strengths of the available networks solutions," said MobiTV COO and co-founder Paul Scanlan.

MobiTV also will deliver features including seamless navigation and content discovery; unified billing, provisioning and authentication; live and on-demand media ingestion; electronic programming guide; premium channel purchase; mobile commerce; in-stream advertising; integrated music content; integrated clip assets; VoD and PVR functionality; location-based services; blackout management; and DMA content restrictions.

MobiTV has also announced that over one million users now subscribe to its mobile television services worldwide. Since launching in November 2003, MobiTV has signed-on more than 50 international content partnerships and deployed its television services on more than 20 mobile networks worldwide.

Earlier this year at the 3GSM World Congress, MobiTV announced support for several other network delivery standards including DMB, MBMS, BCMCS, TDtv, WiMax, and WiFi.