Moto unveils standalone mobile TV gadget: DVB-H device likely bound for international markets

Motorola Inc. unveiled a standalone broadcast mobile television device that it hopes will appeal to TV fans who want to go mobile. The device is the first of its kind from Motorola — housing a DVB-H chipset that includes no cellular connectivity.
The device will support live TV, on-demand clips and programs saved on a memory card. Supporting the DVB-H broadcasting standard, the Mobile TV DH01 is “smaller than a paperback novel” with a 4.3-inch wide QVGA screen supporting up to 16 million colors, according to Motorola. The device also includes a five-minute memory buffer for pause during live TV viewing.
“Mobile TV is expected to grow significantly in 2008 and beyond and Motorola is in a unique position to mobilize the TV experience to deliver broadcast and personalized content wherever and whenever consumers want,” said Navin Mehta, VP of mobile TV and applications services for Motorola.
Digital video quality on the device will play at 25 frames per second with a rechargeable battery that promises up to four hours of playback time.
Motorola did not disclose where or when it plans to sell the gadget, or what the price would be. However, the device is likely bound for international markets as no commercial DVB-H networks are running or planned in the United States.
Indeed, Qualcomm Inc. currently commands the leading position in the mobile TV market in the United States with its MediaFLO network, a service that essentially squeezed out DVB-H hopefuls Modeo and Hiwire.
A number of European and Asian countries currently have DVB-H mobile TV networks up and running. And a number of cellphone makers have released phones that can play DVB-H broadcasts.