It didn’t take long for Qualcomm Inc.’s planned mobile television network to attract attention.
Sprint PCS Chief Operating Officer and President Len Lauer said Tuesday his firm is negotiating with the wireless chip and technology vendor to deliver live broadcasts to Sprint users. Verizon Wireless is also eyeing the service, according to a spokesman.
Qualcomm made headlines Monday when it announced plans to build a nationwide network specifically to provide streaming audio and video to mobile users. The $800 million network will be constructed by a Qualcomm subsidiary, MediaFLO USA, and is expected to begin service in 2006.
The new network will allow carriers to off-load data-heavy audio and video services that can be costly to transmit and weigh heavily on operators’ infrastructures. As many as 100 channels will be offered, including 15 live streaming stations, and the service is expected to be higher quality than current mobile video offerings.
Qualcomm will also benefit by providing mobile chips and technology for the new network.
Sprint currently offers MobiTV-the nation’s lone live mobile video service-as well as a handful of channels on its own Sprint TV. The carrier is also said to be interested in bidding for spectrum in a government auction next year, but is not looking to buy airwaves soon to be sold by Cingular Wireless L.L.C. as part of its divestiture requirements for its acquisition of AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
