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EU considers taxing GPS / TV-enabled phones as "multi-functional devices"
Oh noes! The European Union is reportedly mulling a tax increase on handsets that boast TV receivers or GPS modules, and we're not talking just a few pennies (or whatever you folks use over there). The European Commission has put forth a proposal to "reclassify some phones as multi-functional devices, which would trigger a 14-percent tax on mobiles with TV receivers and 3.7-percent on navigation-enabled phones." Needless to say, both Sony Ericsson and Nokia are vehemently against the increase, with an SE spokesperson noting that "these new duties would inevitably lead to a high increase in consumer pricing at a time where we are all struggling to keep prices as low as possible." We're told that a final decision won't be made for at least six months, and honestly, we hope the whole initiative just gets lost in the shuffle along the way.[Via mobileburn]
Microtune's in-car TV tuner snags 'Days of our Lives' at 125mph
Say you're James Bond (or similar), and for once, you're actually not the one behind the wheel. While you're being chauffeured around the elegant Italian countryside at breakneck speeds, you'll probably want a little live TV entertainment from the back seat. Enter Microtune's MicroTuner, a "first-of-its-kind tuner chip for high-speed in-car TV." Put simply, the MT2067 is built to provide "superior, stable TV reception for passengers in vehicles traveling at top speeds along the autobahn or highway," and supposedly, it can retain a clear signal whilst motoring at 125 miles-per-hour. Better still, it's supports worldwide analog / digital terrestrial standards including NTSC, PAL, SECAM, DVB-T, DVB-H, ISDB-T, DTMB, ATSC and ATSC-M/H. $20 says this comes integrated into next year's TV-infused line of Bentley motorcars.
No TV tuner, no problem with Permian's MOBview dongle
The problem with mobile television services -- besides the fact that no one seems to use them, that is -- is that unless you happen to be in Japan or South Korea, very, very few handsets have the hardware necessary to take advantage. Chinese company Permian seems to have it all figured out, though, crafting a nifty dongle that does the heavy lifting of pulling in and tuning a TV signal, streaming the entertainment to a variety of WinMo-based phones over Bluetooth. We don't know what standards the so-called "MOBview" supports, when it'll be available, or how much it'll run, but if AT&T could somehow sell it for $39.99 in stores and recommend it for use with the Fuze, they might just monetize that MediaFLO stuff yet. Follow the break for the video demo of MOBview in action![Via pocketnow.com]
ATSC gives initial thumbs-up to MPH mobile TV standard
Merely weeks after a handful of TV broadcasters voiced their approval of the MPH mobile TV standard, the almighty ATSC has elevated its specification for Mobile Digital Television to Candidate Standard status. Or it will early next week, based on the futuristic December 1st date on the press release. Anywho, the thumbs-up brings the standard one huge step closer to actual implementation in the United States, though a final standard isn't apt to be agreed upon until late next year. Not that the delay is really a problem -- after all, a grand total of 19 people in this great nation even care about TV on the go, right?[Via mocoNews]
Samsung Omnia becomes first DivX Certified handset in USA
Samsung's Omnia is far from being the first handset in its stable to grab the coveted DivX Certified badge, but it is the first with said badge to ship in the United States of America. What's it all mean? Pretty simple, really -- those lured in by the Omnia's boyish good looks and seductive touchpanel will have no issues playing back DivX video files on the 3.2-inch screen, regardless of whether those files are stored on the 8GB of internal space or on a microSD card. We probably speak for DivX fans across the web when we say that this is hopefully just the beginning of a long list of DivX-friendly phones to come stateside.
Orange launching 60 high-res mobile TV channels in France
Upon first glance, we almost flipped a lid at the mere mention of "high-definition mobile TV." Turns out, that's probably a misconstrued way of saying "high-resolution," or, "a higher quality than usual." At any rate, Orange is making the final touches on its mobile TV service, which will deliver 60 channels (20 with unlimited access) on the company's 3G+ UMA platform. Reportedly, the first handset to take advantage will be the LG Secret KF757, which will be the first mobile to boast the Orange TV Player -- an application that enables users to "flick from one channel to another and to consult a guide to programs showing on each channel." Sounds pretty sweet, but be sure and give us a call when you really have high-def content to share and a phone to take advantage.[Image courtesy of DirectNews]
Telstra lands Samsung's touchscreen-heavy F480T
Samsung's touchscreen-centric F480 isn't the freshest of the fresh right now, but it's still hot news for folks in Australia. Telstra has just added the F480T to its Next G lineup, and with it comes a 2.8-inch LCD, 5-megapixel camera, support for the outfit's 7.2Mbps data network, 200MB of onboard memory, an SD expansion slot, Bluetooth 2.0, haptic feedback and access to Mobile FOXTEL. Put it in your pocket right now for as low as free on a $60 plan for two years.
Research finds mobile TV as unseductive as ever, though VOD seems interesting
News flash: mobile TV is not enticing. Like, at all. The viability of watching TV on one's handset has been questioned for years, and now we've got the numbers to prove that interest is waning. Recent research has found that mobile TV adoption sits at just 1% now, and interest in all types of mobile TV is just over 50% of what it was in 2006. The report places the blame on "patchy network coverage, limited channel lineup, poor video quality, excessive prices and a penchant among high-end phone users for business handsets rather than video phones," and we'd certainly have a tough time disagreeing. That being the case, it was still found that 15% of those surveyed on the topic would actually enjoy watching recorded TV shows later on their phone, suggesting that a little bit of choice when it comes to content may not be a bad idea. Rest assured, players in this space are already looking at ways to make it happen, and for those with SlingPlayer, you know all too well what we're getting at.
MediaFLO looking to nearly double served markets by end of 2009
It's possible that MediaFLO hasn't read the writing on the wall, but despite the fact that mobile TV isn't being adopted at a wild rate, the Qualcomm subsidiary is still trying to expand. In fact, a recent report states that MediaFLO is looking to serve 108 markets by the end of 2009, up from 62 markets currently. Speaking to where it hopes to pick up traction, Bob Bradley, MediaFLO USA's Senior Director of Content, stated that MediaFLO is "starting to see success in offering both temporary channels and access to live events." Furthermore, the firm is expected to launch three new channels based around original content, and it's hoping to lure in "well-established Hollywood talent to help develop even more original content." We can't say that all of these ideas have fail written all over them or anything, but we still see a steep, steep road ahead for all mobile TV firms looking to gain popularity, MediaFLO included.
TV broadcasters pleased with MPH mobile TV test results
The world needed another mobile TV standard about like it needs another hole in the ozone layer, but regardless of that, we've still got broadcasters backing MPH. We originally heard that said protocol was being tested by Raleigh's WRAL back in July, and since then, a whopping 800 local stations (which make up the Open Mobile Video Coalition) have joined in to work out the kinks. Currently, the general consensus is one of satisfaction, with the group now hoping to "prove the viability of the proposed system before the ATSC." If all goes well, a candidate standard will be ready to present next month, which "would keep handset manufacturers on schedule to have commercial devices available by the holiday 2009 shopping season." OMVC is also planning a multi-station demo at CES in January, so you can bet we'll be there giving it a run for its cheddar.[Via RCRWireless]
Sprint prepares to phone-cast entire NFL games, starting tonight
The National Football League and Sprint have been tied up in one form or fashion for years now, but the relationship is finally rounding third and heading for home. All mixed analogies aside, what we're saying is that the feature you've been clamoring for has finally arrived, and beginning tonight, select Sprint subscribers will be able to watch the entire Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos tilt on their handset. Obviously, you'll need a Sprint TV-capable handset and an Everything Plan (or a $15 per month add-on) in order to tune in, but tonight's game -- which kicks off at 8:00PM ET on the NFL Network -- will be the first of eight games (televised solely on that network) to air via Sprint. Whether or not The Now Network can keep up with the action, however, remains to be seen.
Cox to enter cellphone biz, link handsets to other cable-related services
We know, you're just dying to say this is a complete shock, but we're here to inform you that it's not. If you'll recall, Cox dug deep to snatch up a decent block of spectrum in this year's 700MHz auction, and it even went so far as to promise a differentiated product that would eventually integrate with its other content and services. Sure enough, it's keeping its word. After spending $500 million on wireless capacity in its markets, president Pat Esser says it's time to turn things on. By relying on Cox's own 3G network (along with Sprint's, initially), the carrier will offer up an undisclosed amount of handsets that will "include a network address book that automatically synchronizes with home PCs" and allow remote programming of one's DVR. Furthermore, users will be able to access e-mail and voicemail that they receive at home right on their mobile, and ideally, subscribers could watch TV shows right on their handsets. Get ready for an awkward new rival in the wireless space beginning, um, anytime now.
Sharp's 9225H brings the flip-open QWERTY action to Softbank
Not that we haven't seen relatively ho hum handsets get cracked open to reveal their sunny side (and full QWERTY keyboard) before, but Sharp's newly unveiled 9225H does more than just look pretty in two positions. Unwrapped at CEATEC 2008, the Softbank-destined mobile packed a 3.5-inch VGA screen internally, an inbuilt 1seg TV tuner, multimedia player, e-mail functionality, 2-megapixel camera and a microSDHC slot for loading up additional Iron & Wine tunes. There's no mention of a price, but feel free to head to the read link if you're in search of more images.[Thanks, Mark]
E-TEN's V900 gets handled, unloved
Bad camera, poor battery life, a dodgy d-pad, ugly color -- is there anything good to say about the most well-spec'd glofiish in E-TEN's range? Well, yes: with support for not one, not two, but four mobile TV standards under its belt, you'll have a hard time finding a WinMo set out there that's friendlier to telly on the go. Plus, the V900 rocks a flush VGA display and tri-band HSDPA, which are "good things" last time we checked; you're just going to have to put up with flimsy build quality and a host of software and hardware niggles to get 'em. At $700, it's hard to swallow the thought of buying a device this heavily panned in a review, but if you absolutely must be able to switch between DAB and DVB-T with aplomb... well, your crappy phone has arrived.
Sidekick-esque UTStarcom Knick surfaces for AT&T
Whoa, what's this? No, seriously -- does anyone in attendance know what this device is? Clearly, we're able to decipher that it's a UTStarcom Knick, and we're also pretty sure it's designed for AT&T, but considering that this is the first time we've ever heard of this thing, we're still a bit awestruck. The very Sidekick-like handset boasts a full QWERTY keyboard underneath the sliding display, and based on the informational placard accompanying it at some RadioShack kiosk, we can tell that it boasts an inbuilt still / video camera, GPS and support for mobile TV. Curiously enough, we've also found a random accessory site pushing universal belt clips for this very phone, so maybe we'll actually see something official sooner rather than later. Check out what looks to be a "press shot" after the jump. Update: More details listed after the break. Thanks, Michael![Thanks, Luppers]Read - AT&T Knick pictureRead - AT&T Knick accessories
Cricket adds unlimited video clip package for $5 per month
While the world still tries to decide if its really into mobile TV or not, Cricket is moving forward with plans assuming that she is. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless has just announced a flat-rate unlimited mobile video service that will enable users with "select handsets" to view one-to-four-minute-long video clips for $5 per month. Watching the clips won't tack on any additional data charges, and as for content, customers can look for clips from FUEL TV, Hollywood Insider and an array of other sources. Nah, there's no live TV (yet), but the pricing sure is admirable.[Via phonescoop]
MediaFLO now serving MSNBC, CNBC and FOX News
Just in time for the run-up to the 2008 Presidential election, MediaFLO has added in a trio of news sources to give you your fix wherever you are. CNBC, MSNBC and FOX News have all been added to the lineup in order to give you varying views on the same topics at hand. Available to Verizon Wireless and AT&T subscribers, the channels will offer simulcast programming in line with what's happening on the tele, though we'd caution you not to watch too much coverage during your morning board meeting.[Via phonescoop]
KAON's KM35 PMP does mobile TV on the side
Pucker up, jet-setters -- South Korea's own KAON Media has a new PMP on the way, and for whatever reason, we've found ourselves strangely attracted to what the KM35 has going on here. The "Anywhere TV and Internet" device runs on Windows CE (and handles fresh-out-of-cinema films very well) and features a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 resolution display, 4GB or 8GB NAND flash drive, WiFi, an SD expansion slot, optional FM tuner and your choice of DVB-T/H, ISDB-T or T-DMB TV tuners. Early estimates peg battery life at around 2.5-hours when watching live TV, though there's no word yet on pricing or worldwide availability.[Thanks, J. Carter]
Norway shuns DVB-H for DMB, European mobile TV drama deepens
Granted, Norway isn't actually a member of the European Union, which makes it slightly less dramatic that they've rejected the Nokia-tested, EU-approved DVB-H standard in favor of DMB -- but it's still Europe, and this just adds to the ugly, fragmented picture that mobile TV is becoming around there. Germany has all but abandoned DVB-H to go with its free, designed-for-TV counterpart, DVB-T, and the UK has recently hooked up Qualcomm with spectrum for a MediaFLO network, so ubiquitous DVB-H is anything but a guarantee across the continent at this point. The current Norwegian plan calls for nine DMB channels to launch by winter, which may be viewed as a superior technology there because it's better able to cover rural areas in a cost-effective way than DVB-H is. Bottom line: if you'd dreamed of some day carrying a single device from country to country to catch all the spellbinding local TV programming, you might be out of luck for a while.
AT&T adds LG Invision to Mobile TV lineup
Just as we'd envisioned, the Invision candybar (if a phone this stubby can, in fact, be called a candybar) from LG is now a reality for AT&T. The phone becomes just AT&T's third to support its MediaFLO-based Mobile TV service, taking a similar line to Samsung's Access by stuffing a landscape display, 1.3-megapixel camera, and HSDPA into a squarish case that's sure to make minimalists and traditionalists swoon; what's more, it also takes the honor of being AT&T's smallest Mobile TV-equipped handset to date. It's available today for $99.99 with a $50 rebate and two years' worth of commitment -- just be sure to factor the cost of the Mobile TV add-on into your budget.
