[CTIA 2006] -- The current 3rd party Mobile TV leader MobiTV has just surpassed the million subscriber mark. No breakdown in geographic areas have been given, so it is hard to tell how many subscribers are actually based out of the U.S. MobiTV service can be accessed on over 20 mobile networks around the world. It has only been six months since they announced they usurped the 500k subscriber threshold.

TV channels that can be viewed on MobiTV include: MSNBC, ABC News Now, CNN, Fox News, Fox Sports, ESPN 3GTV, NBC Mobile, CNBC, The Discovery Channel, and TLC. Most subscribers pay around $10 per month for MobiTV broadcasts.

Mobile TV has been a big topic this year in the wireless space, and has hit the Conferences. Many discussions being driven by global wireless carriers include multicast solutions from the likes of MediaFLO and DVB-H. MobiTV currently relies on the data networks of big carriers like Sprint and Verizon to send live TV programming.

Posted by mobilemodo at 11:15 PM | Permalink Posted to Mobile TV | News

Cingular Wireless, the largest cell-phone carrier in the United States, is set to launch a new video service for two new phones. Subscribers will pay $20 a month for access to clips from the Cartoon Network, Fox News, NBC and others. The service will use Cingular’s high-speed data network, which is available in 16 cities.

For an extra $5 a month, 3-5 minute clips of HBO shows like the Sopranos will be available as well. Two phones, from Samsung and from LG, will go on sale Tuesday for the service. Each will cost $99 with a two-year contract. The service is similar to Verizon Wireless’ $15-a-month Vcast service, which launched in February last year in some markets.

Cingular and some other carriers already provide live TV on some handsets, using different technology called MobiTV. Cingular charges $20 a month for that service. Cingular is a joint venture of BellSouth Corp. and AT&T Inc. On Sunday, AT&T announced a deal to buy BellSouth for $67 million, which would give AT&T complete control of Cingular.

Cingular’s high-speed network is available in Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Tacoma, Wash.; and Washington, D.C.

Posted by mobilemodo at 01:56 PM | Permalink Posted to Cingular | Mobile Content | Mobile TV | News

We are now experiencing a rapid evolution of mobile content on handsets, and with the age of complete interoperability between all kinds of electronic devices getting closer -- the deal signed today between TiVo , the creator of TV services for digital video recorders (DVR), and Verizon Wireless, one of the top three (Cingular #1, Verizon #2, Sprint #3) US mobile carriers the age of Mobile TV has arrived.

According to the new agreement rumors today, Verizon Wireless will launch debut TiVo Mobile, a new downloadable application that lets TiVo service subscribers schedule recordings on their TiVo device directly from their "Get It Now" menu, which also provides access to Verizon's VCAST music, video, ring tones, and games.

"This arrangement will allow the growing base of TiVo subscribers to integrate control of their TV life with the most widespread piece of consumer electronics, the wireless phone," said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo.

TiVo Mobile is a new innovation that will allow TiVo subscribers to schedule DVR recordings and access related entertainment information from the convenience of their mobile handsets. Viewers will be able to schedule recordings on the go via the same user interface that makes TiVo the best-in- class DVR experience.

Continue reading "TiVo And Verizon make Mobile Deal" »

Posted by mobilemodo at 01:43 PM | Permalink Posted to Mobile Applications | Mobile TV | News | Rumors | Verizon

Fox Mobile Entertainment is jumping on the wireless content bandwagon, by unveiling a new Web site to swap games, music and images for mobile phones. With some big bucks backing up this deal, it will open the floodgates for the creation of exclusive mobile content for teens and young adults.

Fox's News Corp. just launched Mobizzo, which features mobile content from Fox shows like the “Family Guy,” “Napoleon Dynamite” and the soon to be released film “Ice Age." The Mobizzo site is also offering themed ringtones, images and games from mobile publishers I-Play and Airborne.

Mobizzo content is now available through both subscription and “a la carte”. The offerings can be picked up from Cingular Wireless or T-Mobile USA with more carriers negotiations that are in the works (Verizon, Sprint).

Fox is bringing an impressive media content library to the wireless scene and with Mobizzo launched as the primary outlet, they will have to go head to head with the likes of Jamster and Blinko who already have a foothold on a segment of the mobile market.

Not to be left in the dust, CBS also announced a service that will deliver text alerts, pictures and video to wireless users. The mobile content from CBS News will cost $1 a month, while E.T. alerts will cost $4 a month. M-Qube, an East Coast mobile tech company is powering CBS' product launch.

Posted by mobilemodo at 01:59 PM | Permalink Posted to Mobile Content | Mobile TV | News

InfoSpace Mobile, one of the leaders in mobile media content, and fuse, a viewer influenced music television network, announced from NATPE in Las Vegas a substantial mobile entertainment initiative whereby InfoSpace will provide fuse with mobile content including ring tones, graphics and mobile games.

This content will be available to consumers on the fuse mobile storefront in the second quarter of 2006. Mobile cell phone users in the U.S on all major carriers including Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, Cingular, and T-Mobile will be able to access this content via mobile internet browsers via WAP, Opera Mobile, or Opera Mini browsers.

"fuse is a recognized and leading channel for tech-savvy music enthusiasts, so we're excited to work with them for a simple, on-the-go solution for easy access to mobile entertainment." - VP of Infospace mobile content

Under the new business arrangement, fuse viewers will be able to order wireless mobile content via a single shortcode (fuseM) promoted on select fuse TV programs as well as one code ordering from the fuse mobile storefront. The Web-based mobile storefront will be developed and managed by InfoSpace. InfoSpace will provide fuse with music tones from major record labels and hundreds of independent labels in addition to thousands of graphics and InfoSpace's library of mobile phone games.

Posted by mobilemodo at 09:38 AM | Permalink Posted to Mobile Applications | Mobile Content | Mobile TV | News