MobiTV to provide Mobile TV over WiMAX?
MobiTV
is one of the largest aggregators of content for mobile TV. It aggregates content and provides it through a network of cellular
operators.It also provides content via the AT&T broadband network ( WiFi) to PCs, PDAs and mobile devices.
MobiTV is now understood to be extending the
delivery of program channels via WiMAX networks as well. For this purpose it has identified a three way arrangement as follows:
Content,
Streaming infrastructure and MobiTV application: To be provided by MobiTV
Content protection and Service Protection: To
be provided by NDS
Mobile WiMAX infrastructure: To be provided by Runcom
The new service, MobiBlu is designed as a two
way interactive service and provides a Unicast and multicast of the channels in different resolutions ( for mobile phones,
PDAs and PCs).The service is at the full broadcast frame rate of 30 fps and 640x480 resolution. It uses the NDS encryption
for transmission security and NDS DRM for content security.
Will we see the service on the Sprint Network
with MobiTV provided user interfaces soon?
It certainly appears to be so.
WiMAX TV
demonstrated at IBC 2007
The demonstration of WiMAX TV at IBC which used
the encoding platforms based on H.264 from EnvivioŽ mobile TV encoders showcased in exemplary clarity how mobile WIMAX operators
can leverage their networks to deliver streaming TV services. The TV services were delivered to multiple screens( TVs, PCs
and mobile Phones) using the same mobile WiMAX network.
The fact that mobile WiMAX also brings high speed broadband
along with streaming multimedia services places it in a different class altogether. Being based on open IETF, IEEE and WiMAX
forum standards, it presents new opportunities in the mobile TV space crowded by multiple standards.