LAS VEGAS-Less than two months into a broadcast mobile TV service trial, HiWire L.L.C. has wrapped the first phase of its study and is now preparing to increase its scope by 800% before month’s end.
T-Mobile USA Inc., which has signed on with the Aloha Partners L.P. subsidiary for the trial, is working with HiWire to find a varied demographic blend of 200 customers to participate in the next phase. Results from the first phase found that at least 74% of the initial 25 beta testers watched the service at home or in the office. HiWire and T-Mobile USA both are eager to learn more from the expanded pool of viewers.
HiWire stands as a major competitor to Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFLO USA broadcast mobile TV service. Although MediaFLO USA has already successfully launched a commercial service and inked deals with the top two U.S. wireless carriers, there could still be room for HiWire to play in the mobile space.
Before launch, the DVB-H service already trumps the expanse of MediaFLO’s offering with a current programming lineup of 24 channels from a variety of entertainment, news and network content providers.
Standing up to the test
At first glance, both services appear on an equal playing field. Both networks use spectrum in the 700 MHz band, which is f
