Competing standards in the mobile TV arena

Scandinavians and Koreans, two of the most adventurous groups of mobile users, are betting on mobile TV. The BBC reports from 3GSM.

[...] All is not simple and straightforward in the mobile TV arena.

There is a battle for supremacy between two competing standards: Digital Video Broadcasting for Handsets (DVB-H) and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB)

"DMB offers twice the number of frames a minute as DVB-H and does not drain mobile batteries as quickly."

The Japanese, Koreans and Ericsson of Sweden are backing DMB.

Nokia, by contrast, is backing DVB-H, and is involved in mobile TV trials that use its art-deco style media phone, which has a larger than usual screen for TV or visual radio (a way of accompanying a radio programme with related text and pictures).

But even if the standards battle is resolved, there is the thorny issue of broadcasting rights.

emily | 11:21 AM | TV on Cell Phones |
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