3GSM: BT, Virgin and Microsoft to launch mobile TV
13 February 2006
UK carrier British Telecom (BT) and virtual operator Virgin Mobile are expected to formally announce the launch of their UK mobile TV service at 3GSM in Barcelona on Tuesday.
Last month BT claimed encouraging results from its pilot for mobile TV, dubbed BT Movio. The telco claimed 73 per cent of customers would be prepared to pay up to £8 per month for the service if it was available on their current network, while 38 per cent would be prepared to switch networks to receive the service.
BT claims the average length of mobile TV viewing was more than one hour per week.
The telco partnered with Virgin Mobile to trial the service over four months with 1000 users in south east England, utilising the country's nationwide DAB network and DAB- IP-enabled handsets. Microsoft is also believed to have had a hand in developing BT's offering.
BT is understood to be pitching its Movio service as a wholesale offering for service providers. As it uses the UK's existing DAB network, providers do not need to apply for, or possess their own spectrum to offer services.
The industry buzz over mobile TV looks set reach a peak at 3GSM.
According to Informa Telecoms & Media's Mobile Industry Outlook 2006, mobile TV is expected to remain a prominent technology with 18 per cent of operators believing it will generate most interest during 2006, bucking the widespread belief that 2006 is too early for mobile TV technology and business models to take shape.
However, one finding that may be indicative of the consumer attitude towards mobile TV is BT's revelation that mobile digital radio, which it also made available during the DAB trial, proved to be more popular than TV. Users tuned into radio for an average of over one and a half hours every week during the trial.
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