| e TV has been around since 2002, but it was the | | | | devices at speeds ranging from 144 kbps to a blazing |
| demo for the Nokia N92 handheld in 2005 that brought | | | | 2 MBPS. (That's the kind of speed you get over the |
| the idea into the mainstream. | | | | cable and DSL lines connected to your computer, and |
| BBC was one of a handful of channels broadcasted | | | | makes streaming audio/video from Web 2.0 sites |
| during that demo, and while the idea itself was a | | | | possible.) |
| natural evolution of market expectations, it was also, | | | | In terms of hardware, Korean companies have been |
| expectedly, a revolution for the cell phone industry. | | | | the traditional front runners in implementing most of |
| The Nokia N92 could beam full motion video at 30 | | | | what Mobile TV technology is today. Two of their |
| frames / second, and supported about 4 hours of TV | | | | early implementations can be found in the form of the |
| viewing on one charge. It basically had the equivalent | | | | Samsung SCH-B250 and the LG V9000 phones -- |
| of a TV tuner built into it that captured signals from | | | | both of which were launched in 2006. |
| compatible TV channels and stations. | | | | Currently, Mobile TV is a developing technology, and |
| The fundamental premise of a cell phone is that it | | | | service providers like mobiTV, Sprint TV, Vodafone |
| works by picking up compatible radio signals. The idea | | | | and others are beefing up their systems to handle this |
| was to build a cell phone that could pick up signals in | | | | significant demand. |
| the frequency range of those allotted for broadcast | | | | There was a time when watching even videos stored |
| televisions (VHF, UHF, etc.), hence making the concept | | | | on your mobile at decent frame rates and quality |
| of watching TV on your handheld a reality. | | | | seemed like a big thing. But with advancements in |
| There were challenges to this, the biggest being that of | | | | processor / memory technology and service |
| transmission speeds. Typical television broadcasting | | | | throughput standards, Mobile TV is now the thing -- |
| requires fast transmission speeds -- speeds much | | | | alongside WiFi Internet Phones. |
| higher than what most of the current generation (2G) | | | | You may have a satellite TV in your living room, but |
| phones are capable of handling. | | | | mobile TV is like have a satellite system right in your |
| That's where 3G technology comes in, offering | | | | phone! -- The future of mobile entertainment, playing |
| broadband internet access to cell phones and handheld | | | | live in the palm of your hands. |