Global mobility leader Nokia and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd (MiTV), Malaysia’s third pay television operator, have announced a collaboration that will launch a commercial broadcast mobile TV service based on Digital Video Broadcast Handheld (DVB-H) technology in Malaysia.
The service, which is set to go live on second half of 2007, will see Nokia Siemens Networks provide MiTV’s 018 broadcast mobile TV service-- an end-to-end deployment process which includes implementation, integration and application development services. They will also maintain MiTV’s infrastructure on a turnkey basis.
“This marks the beginning of exciting times in the Asia Pacific broadcasting industry, bringing digital television to consumers’ pockets and ushering in a new era of personal interactive entertainment,” said Jawahar Kanjilal, Director, Multimedia Experiences, Nokia Multimedia Asia Pacific.
“The Nokia N77 multimedia computer will be a key element of this consumer offering and we look forward to the continuing development of broadcast mobile TV services in the region.”
Under the agreement Nokia and MiTV will implement a true broadcast mobile TV experience based on an open DVB-H standard enabling viewers in Malaysia to watch DVD-like quality broadcast television ‘on the go’.
With Nokia’s integrated DVB-H device-- the Nokia N77-- both organisations are apparently confident of delivering a rich broadcast mobile TV solution for the enjoyment of MiTV’s customers.
DVB-H is a broadcast-to-mobile technology which provides excellent reception of the ordinary television broadcasting in digital format on mobile phones and television screens mounted on-board public and private means of transportation. DVB-H was chosen based on its ability to support mobility, efficient power management and DVD-like quality audio and video services without disturbance.
Hailing it as truly revolutionary, MiTV Networks’ executive director Kenneth Change claims that the new technology will be unlike any other claimed mobile TV offerings currently available in the market because the MiTV’s DVH-B service does not rely on packet-based technology hence there’s no streaming and lag associated with it. Consumers will be able to switch channels instantaneously, and the picture quality and reception will be better than any video streaming service available today.
In Asia Pacific Nokia has spearheaded several mobile TV technology showcases in Singapore, India, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan as well as conducting trials in Europe and North America.
“We are excited to play a significant role in MiTV’s mobile entertainment strategy, through the deployment of this mobile TV service in Malaysia for the first time,” said Bill Chang, Country Director of Nokia Siemens Networks in a release.
“This is also aligned to our vision of connecting 5 billion people globally by 2015, through broadband everywhere.” |
