BARCELONA, Spain—Virgin Mobile is set to be one of the first European operators to launch mobile TV services using a dedicated mobile TV network. The carrier, which operates a number of mobile virtual operator services around the world, laid out plans to launch mobile TV later this year using BT Movio, the mobile TV network built by British Telecom Group. Virgin said it will also use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Media technology and Windows Mobile-based smart phones.
Virgin said it will use HTC Corp.’s Trilogy handset for the service, which supports Digital Audio Broadcasting technology.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group of companies, joined Microsoft’s chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer, via a video message broadcast on stage at the 3GSM conference to introduce the Trilogy smart phone.
“Mobile TV marks the beginning of a new epoch for our industry and the Virgin Mobile telephone is something I know consumers are really excited about,” said Branson. “Everyone watches TV these days, and being able to watch your favorite programs on your mobile while on the go will soon be as natural as watching TV in your living room today.”
Virgin Mobile said customers that subscribe to the forthcoming mobile TV service will have access to more than 350 DAB stations broadcasting 24 hours per day.
“Virgin Mobile customers will be the first people in Europe to watch real broadcast TV over their mobile phones,” stated Graeme Hutchinson, sales and marketing director of Virgin Mobile. “It’s not downloaded; it’s not looped; it’s real TV just like you get at home, and it’s real DAB digital radio—crystal clear sound.”
BT’s mobile TV technology, called DAB, is a separate mobile TV network that operators can use to provide mobile TV services. BT Movio said its DAB-based mobile TV network will be available to all mobile operators in the United Kingdom.
Similar networks are being built in the United States. Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFlo subsidiary is working on a network technology called Flo and has already signed up Verizon Wireless as a customer. Meanwhile, Crown Castle International Corp.’s subsidiary, Modeo L.L.C., is set to offer mobile TV via DVB-H technology. Modeo plans to launch services in the nation’s top 30 markets, including New York City, sometime this year.<
