LAS VEGAS—Crown Castle International Corp.’s mobile TV subsidiary, Modeo L.L.C., announced it contracted with High Tech Computer Corp. to build a DVB-H-capable phone, which Modeo will sell in the second half of this year. The phone will be able to play TV broadcasted over Modeo’s DVB-H mobile TV network.
Modeo said it plans to launch commercial DVB-H services in up to 30 U.S. markets by next year, and that a network in New York City will be up and running sometime this year.
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The move is notable for Modeo as the company appears to have plans to sell its own branded mobile TV phones straight to consumers. Modeo’s main competitor, Qualcomm Inc., is taking a different track by selling its mobile TV network to wireless carriers, who will then sell mobile TV-capable phones to end users.
“The new Modeo phone provides a best-in-class multimedia experience that should impress even the most discerning TV viewer, while also delivering on a wide range of more traditional smart phone features and functionality,” said Michael Schueppert, president of Modeo. “We’re pleased to introduce a device with these innovative capabilities, combined with highly appealing contemporary design and aesthetics.”
Modeo said the phone, built by HTC, features Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile operating system, and will support GSM/EDGE networks.
