(10 January 2006 7:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The number of multimedia mobile cell phones in the US has undergone a 100 per cent growth in 2005. About 1.2 million mobile phone users indulged themselves in mobile phone TV last year, and the number is expected to reach about 30 million by 2009, suggests a study conducted by the IDC research group.

A report from Horizon Media, a New York City-based marketing company, suggests that mobile TV in the US will be an $800 million business in 2009.

Mobile TV in the US got a serious boost from Apple when it launched the iPod Video last year. A number of network programs now are available for purchase from Apple's iTunes Web site for viewing on the new iPods.