[opendtv] Regulators delaying mobile TV roll-out in Eurpoe

This is interesting:

"However, FM radio will prove to be a valuable "check box" feature on
both 2G and 3G handsets going forward. Another analyst at Strategy
Analytics, Bonny Joy, suggests that by the end of 2010 a new generation
of FM radio stations in emerging markets will act as a catalyst in
driving FM radio features into half of handsets sold annually."

Isn't Ofcom trying to reassign the FM spectrum to other uses, and be rid
of FM radio altogether? I guess that a cell phone's half-life is so
short that such long-term considerations don't matter.

Bert

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http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=1992
02495

April 27, 2007

Regulators delaying mobile TV roll-out in Eurpoe

By John Walko

LONDON - A quagmire of regulatory delays in Europe is hampering the
availability of mobile TV spectrum and will significantly delay the
adoption of the continent's favoured specification for the technology,
DVB-H, a report from Strategy Analytics warns.

The researchers also suggest delays over the next two to three years
would fragment the adoption of mobile TV around the world.

"These regulatory delays, combined with the success of ISDB-T in Japan,
the momentum of DMB services in Korea, the commitment of the two largest
operators in the US to using MediaFLO, and the rising chorus of support
for MBMS in 3GPP2 will create a much more fragmented mid-term for mobile
TV adoption globally," said Chris Ambrosio, director of Wireless
Practice at Strategy Analytics.

However, FM radio will prove to be a valuable "check box" feature on
both 2G and 3G handsets going forward. Another analyst at Strategy
Analytics, Bonny Joy, suggests that by the end of 2010 a new generation
of FM radio stations in emerging markets will act as a catalyst in
driving FM radio features into half of handsets sold annually.

"The next challenge is for device vendors to find a way to push music
into mid-tier price points without negatively impacting usability", said
Joy.

"While Sony Ericsson has made huge strides in this direction with
Walkman, Cybershot and Bravia sub-brands, Samsung and Panasonic are
struggling to leverage strong consumer brands to drive handset sales,"
said Joy.

The report into handset trends also suggests that proactive suppliers
such as Nokia have already started carving out differentiated streaming
video-enabled product positions so as to jump on the Web 2.0 bandwagon.
Strategy Analytics anticipates that in the long term, streaming video
features will serve as the next major enabler beyond messaging to drive
demand for smart 3G devices.

On the down side, the researchers say global camera phone shipments have
slowed to 21 percent annual growth in 2006 following stellar growth
rates over the past few years.

They suggest growth will continue to taper off and OEMs will wrestle to
balance the opposing needs for 2 MPXL+ with supporting usability
features such as auto zoom on 3G products in mature markets with low
cost, VGA-enabled products driving demand in emerging markets.

All material on this site Copyright 2006 CMP Media LLC. All rights
reserved
 
 
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