LOS ANGELES-The rush to provide TV services to mobile phones heated up Thursday as two established French wireless companies each joined the playground in separate announcements.
In-Fusio, a entertainment publisher, launched a new TV channel for Sprint PCS Vision subscribers. The company unveiled SmashTV, a youth-targeted channel that will stream one- to three-minute video clips of extreme sports, amateur stunts and animation shorts featuring Speed Racer and other characters.
Sprint’s Vision users can access the channel for $5 a month.
In-Fusio, which boasts a portfolio of mobile licenses including Golden Tee, 20th Century Fox films’ properties and Microsoft Corp.’s Halo, is teaming with several animation studios and media companies to provide content for the offering.
“We have collaborated with Sprint and a talented group of artists and content providers to deliver exciting, creative and engaging streaming video perfect for viewing on a phone,” said Dana Witt, In-Fusio’s business development manager for North America.
Meanwhile, fellow Parisian Alcatel Corp. announced a new internal venture dedicated to wireless TV. Dubbed Alcatel Mobile Broadcast, the venture hopes to develop and promote technologies for operators and broadcasters looking to deploy mobile-video services.
“Alcatel’s unique positioning in both mobile and satellite activities worldwide will help to bring a complete and efficient mobile TV solution to our customers based on a hybrid offer combining terrestrial and satellite coverage,” said Etienne Fouques, president of Alcatel’s wireless business.
