BBC offers its shows via mobiles

BBC TV and radio channels will be available on some mobile phones for a trial period beginning in April, reports the BBC

"For an initial 12 months, a range of broadcast output will be syndicated to the Vodafone, Orange and 3 networks.

Subscribers to their TV packages will be able to watch BBC One, BBC News 24 and BBC Three, with the exception of some sport and bought-in programmes. "

Cingular Promotes Video Sharing For Business

AT&T’s Cingular is promoting Video Share at CTIA, which it will launch this summer, reports Moco News.

"The service “lets a mobile phone caller send a live video stream from the camera on their cell phone to whomever they’re calling. The other user will have to be using a phone that supports the service and be in an area where it’s offered.

The recipient can choose to accept the stream and later reverse it, sending video from their camera to the other caller. The video can also be saved”.

Camera Phone Classified Ads

Step into the future of classified advertising. With the flip of a phone, users can broadcast or search a wide range of items - including autos, boats, sporting goods, consumer electronics, video games, concert tickets and jobs - thanks to Snap Send Sell by iqzone Inc..

Snap Send Sell enables you to use your mobile phone to post a classified ad in less than 60 seconds.

Simply take a photo or video clip, text a description and send to ad@iqzone.com.

Their intelligent agent then categorizes and maximizes exposure of ads, broadcasting them to the universe of relevant online and print classifieds.

... Sellers can use video to introduce themselves, demonstrate products and personalize ads. They can even hold a virtual garage sale to spring clean their home or clear out a dorm room. [via Business Wire Press release]

Dialing for 'CSI': VCast Mobile brings TV shows to phones

MediaFLO USA, a subsidiary of cellphone chipmaker Qualcomm, has quietly set up a broadcast TV network to bring prime-time shows to customers of Verizon Wireless' VCast service, and soon to Cingular customers. USA Today reports.

"Unlike prior mobile TV offerings, VCast Mobile TV is full of complete prime-time fare, including shows such as CBS' CSI, NCIS and Survivor, NBC's The Office and Heroes, Fox's House and late-night comedy shows from David Letterman, Jay Leno and Jon Stewart.

"Leave the big screen at home, and take your TV with you, anywhere you go," Lombardi says."

Beijing cracks down on mobile phone porn

According to the AFP, Beijing has banned sending pornographic text messages or pictures via mobile phones after busting phone dealers who sold mass-storage devices containing porn.

"Violators face fines of up to 3,000 yuan ($385) and two weeks in detention, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting city public security authorities. Those who sell such content face jail terms between six months and three years.

In the past three weeks, Beijing police have arrested 19 second-hand mobile phone dealers who were found selling storage devices containing pornographic pictures or films.

The chips can hold an hour-long film and were being sold for only five or six yuan (about 60 to 80 cents) each, a security official told Xinhua."

YouTube to launch mobile website soon

According to GiigagOM, YouTube will launch its mobile website in June 2007 for U.S. users.

"YouTube ToGo will go live once the exclusivity clause on the company’s mobile video deal with Verizon Wireless expires. The service will be live for European users in May. YouTube has been already working closely with mobile carriers, and handset makers such as Nokia on the mobile version of their video service.

... The mobile site when it goes live will have around 800 “editorial picks” of videos to choose from. It’s kind of an experiment to see how well things go and how good of a response the company gets, the spokesperson explained to GigaOM. Though, the end goal is to create a truly mobile YouTube experience with eventual access to the entire video catalog.

YooMedia And L'Oreal Use Barcodes For Mobile Marketing

YooMedia has launched a new mobile-based sales promotion technology for L'Oréal hair colouring products. The Pondering Primate reports.

"The newly developed technology is centered around mobile messaging and stand alone interactive promotional consoles known as 'Kerching kiosks', which together drive customers to the promoter's event or retail site.

Promoters send consumers barcodes or pin numbers via SMS, which can then be exchanged for special offers at branded Kerching Kiosks."

Saudi Arabia sets jail penalties for cameraphone misuse

Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will impose 1-year prison sentences and fines of $134,000 for Internet hacking and misuse of mobile telephone cameras, such as taking unauthorised pictures. Reuters reports.

"The bill on information technology crimes defines as a crime "infringing upon private lives through misuse of mobile telephones equipped with cameras and similar devices with the purpose of defaming or harming people".

Camera phones have been opposed by religious police in conservative Saudi Arabia, which imposes a strict form of Islamic law. The country banned the sale of the devices for several months in 2004."

Links to related stories in Picturephoning.com

TV cell phones to debut in China

A kind of cell phone with a TV function, developed independently by China's Radio and TV industry will debut at the end of this month, reports People's Daily Online. "China's Radio and TV industry has stepped up its determination to enter the traditional domain of telecommunications companies."

"Last October, China's radio and TV industry submitted standards for the mobile multi-media broadcasting industry ahead of the telecommunications industry. It supports the broadcasting of TV via cell phones, and is in fact trying to standardize the service nationally.

The TV cell phone market is so attractive that the competition between the radio and TV industry and the telecom industry is very fierce. The industry that controls the new technology will dominate the market in the future.

... According to the State Administration of Radio Film and Television, the goal of 2008 is to popularize TV cell phones".

YouTube award winners announced

The results are in, and YouTube users have chosen their favourite videos of the year in seven different categories.

Picture left:Independent rockers OK Go were nominated for the Most Creative YouTube of the year for their treadmill antics in a video for their song Here It Goes Again.

Watch the 7 winning videos.

[via Canada.com]

Previously: - YouTube Video Awards - The awards will be handed out in seven categories: most creative, most inspirational, best series, best comedy, musician of the year, best commentary and "most adorable video ever.

Warner Bros. Records Puts Artists on the Road with ShoZu

Warner Bros. Records is stepping up its use of ShoZu's mobile image uploading service with a partnership that is already enabling more than a dozen of the label's artists to send images and video directly from ShoZu-powered cellphones to YouTube, MySpace and other Web destinations.

Nashville singer/songwriter Lance Miller, for example, is using a camera phone to document each stop on his current radio tour promoting his new single "She Really Loves Me," using the ShoZu application on the handset to transmit the captured photos and video clips to his MySpace page, and enabling fans to click on various points on a Google Map to retrieve images from each city.

[via Broadcast newsroom]

Snap Happy replaces barcodes on ads

Marketing agency Magnet Harlequin has created a new mobile campaign to support the release of Mr Bean’s Holiday’ starring Rowan Atkinson, reports mad.co.uk

"The campaign, which breaks today, uses a newly developed mobile technology created by the agency called Snap Happy.

Snap Happy is a logo on Mr Bean posters, and when users see the logo they must take a picture of the poster and send it via MMS to a specially set-up number to receive branded downloads.

The technology will allow users access to free ring tones, wallpaper and video downloads exclusively recorded for Mr Bean. The technology is designed to identify the model of handset the user has."

Related image recognition technologies for camera phones:

-- Search By Camera! delivers product data from cellphone pics

-- Daem Interactive offers ugmented reality" technologies for camera-phones

-- Tagit has launched its mobile image recognition technology with Nokia Phones

Microsoft plans range of video phones

According to The Telegraph, Microsoft is preparing to launch a range of audio and video phones in an attempt to carve itself a slice of the global business telecoms market.

"One set of devices is designed to replace bulky old-fashioned desk phones and makes free calls over the internet using Microsoft software, for which public trials begin tomorrow.

The new kit consists of a discreet wireless earpiece and a USB stick about the size of a pack of chewing gum that plugs into a PC or laptop.

Microsoft is also working on a Bluetooth-enabled version of the earpiece that will automatically connect to the users' mobile phones when they walk away from their desk.

Another product is designed for video conferencing. Called Roundtable, it looks like an air traffic controller's microphone.

It houses four high-resolution digital cameras providing a 360-degree view of the room, and works over the internet."

YouTube Reaches Critical Juncture

Industry experts aren't ready to announce its demise, but say the online video company needs to revamp its strategy quickly. The Washington Post reports.

"YouTube has suffered a one-two punch in the past two weeks.

First, Viacom asked for $1 billion in a lawsuit against YouTube, saying the video Web site failed to remove copyright-protected clips. And yesterday, some of the most powerful businesses in Hollywood and on the Internet joined forces to create an online video site of their own , taking some of the Web's most popular videos with them.

YouTube is at a critical juncture. Since it launched in December 2005, it has ridden a wave of popularity that led Google to buy it in a $1.65 billion deal last year. But now the site must figure out its relationship with major traditional media companies while also forging its business, which to date has relied on advertising posted alongside videos.

The key for YouTube is to find a way to keep traffic coming back to the site even as it finds itself trying to pull copyrighted content as fast as users upload it, said Jennifer Simpson, an analyst at Yankee Group. "As these [copyright] issues are being resolved, it becomes increasingly important for YouTube and Google to find really interesting and compelling user-generated content to attract users," Simpson said."

NBC, News Corp. in online video venture

NBC Universal and News Corp. joined forces Thursday with several major Internet companies to distribute TV shows, video clips and movies online in an effort to better control their programming and counter competition from YouTube. Canada.com reports.

"The new network, which would launch this summer, comes in response to the explosive growth Google Inc.'s YouTube".

The venture is aimed at giving broadcasting companies greater control over how their shows are distributed on the Internet."

Emmy Caught in Web: War Over 'New Media'

The Wal Street Journal reports that the organizations that hand out the Emmy awards are locked in an ugly family squabble over programming made for cellphones and the Web.

"Now it's ATAS (The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences) vs. NATAS (The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences)

West Coast ATAS is seeking to prevent the New York group from giving out Emmy awards for online and cellphone videos, claiming that the awards could dilute the Emmy brand.

The spat between the two television academies highlights the confusion faced by the old media as it faces the digital future with excitement and dread.

On March 12, ATAS submitted a request for arbitration to the American Arbitration Association, seeking to prevent the New York group from creating any new Emmy awards contests, particularly in the realm of new media."

Mobile Phones in Iraq's Mission To Be Banned

Bulgarian troops could be prohibited to use mobile phones, announced the Defence Minister Veselin Bliznakov as he welcomed back home the second unit, which was providing security at Iraq's Ashraf camp. news.bg reports.

"The veto concerns the scandalous amateur video clip, that exposes how soldiers humiliate Iraqis. The videowas posted online at the end of last week.

It was shot with a mobile phone during the mission of the country's second unit in Kerbala in 2004.

In the video, the soldiers are calling little local citizens with a Bulgarian offensive word, thatmeans 'dirty Gipsy'.

In most of the allied armies using mobile phones is prohibited."

Real estate sellers shoot for YouTube hits

According to PopMatters, the latest industry to get YouTube and video hosting websites, are realtors.

"From slick, cinematic productions touting waterfront castles to underlit, homemade tours of modest condos, real-estate marketers are eyeing online video as the next way to capture that increasingly elusive creature, the homebuyer."

Edison Mobile Remake

Edison Mobile Remake by French net artist Albertine Meunier, is a project of movie remakes using new technologies.

The main aspect of this project is to realize remakes of Edison movies using a cameraphone (a Nokia N90 mobile phone).

It is in a way to come back to the very beginning of the cinema with this very new tool. Secondly, as a ready made, short Edison movies fit perfectly well on the new screen (the 4th screen) of a mobile phone.

These movies have been made with a mobile phone, a N90 Nokia, and made for viewing on a mobile device. All the movies are available for the mobile format (3gp).

reBlogged from Rhizome.org via via we-make-money-not-art.com/del.icio.us

YouTube Video Awards

The video-sharing website announced Monday that it will hold the first YouTube Video Awards to recognize the best-user created videos of 2006. [via USA Today]

The awards will be handed out in seven categories: most creative, most inspirational, best series, best comedy, musician of the year, best commentary and "most adorable video ever."

The nominees, picked by YouTube, are compiled in a gallery at www.youtube.com/YTAwards. YouTube community members can vote on their favorites beginning Monday and concluding on Friday.

National Geographic launch The Camera Phone Book

The National Geographic Book Shop has announced a new book dedicated to helping people take better pictures with their camera phones. mad4Mobile phones reports.

"... The book aims to guide users on how to choose the best equipment as well as take better pictures, print, store and send images."

From the author and and former CNET writer, Aimee Baldridge:

By combining photography with communications, [the camera phone] has the potential to become the most influential kind of camera.

It offers innovative functions that let you use images to communicate with others, link up with other devices and bridge the gap between the virtual and physical world. The challenge of integrating a camera into an extremely compact, mobile, multifunction device is driving new developments in optics and imaging technology as well.

Mobile TV warned to standardise

European Commission Viviane Reding has issued a stern warning to those involved in mobile TV to agree on adopting a single technology standard, reports the BBC.

"Ms Reding warned that Europe risked losing a chance to be a global player in the burgeoning mobile TV market. She made her comments during a speech to delegates at the Cebit technology fair in Hanover, Germany.

Ms Reding said a good candidate for this single technology was the DVB-H standard that was developed with almost 40m euros ($53m, £27m) of EC research cash.

She said the fact that DVB-H was already in use in 17 EU nations and that it was an open standard should recommend it to the EMBC members.

The commissioner imposed a deadline of summer 2007 on the mobile TV industry to agree on a standard. "

Norwegians empower the camera mobile

Norwegian phone specialist, Plutolife, claims success for its cameraphone application - Mobimodels and is aiming for the same success on the US market, reports The Inquirer.

"Participants use either picture messaging (MMS) or WAP to upload their own photos, rate other people's photos and attempt to win prizes."

In their own words: Mobimodels is a simple and fun community voting service where users vote on who is the hot (or not) in the Mobimodels community. Users can browse and vote on either male or female pictures, they can see the current “hottest” picture or send in photos of themselves to be voted on.

China's 3G Mobile Phone Mess

For years the Chinese government has been backing the development of a home-grown standard for 3G mobile phones, called TD-SCDMA, writes Business Week. "The hope is that this technology can compete with the two Western-developed ones and in terms of network speeds, greater voice capacity, and a range of interactive data features. "

"et because of problems with the Chinese standard, the government has delayed issuing 3G licenses to Chinese telecom operators.

The reason, many believe, is that the government doesn't want to allow 3G in China until work on the Chinese-developed standard is complete. And that's proving difficult. Duncan Clark, managing director of BDA China, a market research firm based in Beijing, says that problems remain, such as poor picture quality for video calls. "It's not ready for prime time," he says."

Read more.

Middle school kids take camphone pics of themselves nude

The Middle school students of Castle Rock, Colorado - children aged twelve and thirteen - who were caught taking nude pictures of themselves with their cameraphones have been let off the hook - legally.

Following a a criminal investigation, it turns out there was no malice involved or pictures posted on the Internet (maybe one). It was just for fun.

Sign language for your cellphone

Roland Piquepaille in Emerging Technology Trends for ZDNet, wirtes about mobilesign, a dictionary of 5,000 words in British Sign Language (BSL) with accompanying downloadable videos for mobile phones. [via 21talks.net]

Below are screen captures of a search for the word "phone", and the sign language that goes with it.

CBS will show NCAA tournament highlights on YouTube

CBS has reached a deal with YouTube to show highlights, press conferences and other content from the NCAA basketball tournament on the video-sharing site, the broadcaster said Thursday, reports USA Today.

"... The CBS agreement with Google's YouTube is also notable in light of the $1 billion lawsuit filed against the video-sharing site this week."

Uruguayan Reporter in Contempt for Using Phone Camera in U.S. Court

A Uruguayan television news reporter pleaded guilty Thursday to contempt charges for illegally using a cell phone camera inside a U.S. courthouse, where cameras are banned, reports Law.com .

"Martin Sarthou, a reporter for Teledoce in Uruguay, got the camera past security at the Miami courthouse and used it to film extradition proceedings in October 2006 involving Juan Peirano Basso, who is accused in Uruguay with taking part in an $800 million banking scandal involving institutions in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.

The resulting images were broadcast on Teledoce, including pictures of Peirana being led into court in handcuffs and leg shackles, according to court documents.

"The entire presentation was used to disparage Mr. Peirano in the eyes of the Uruguayan public," said Peirano lawyer Joseph A. DeMaria in court papers.

But according to a translated script, Sarthou said the network "deemed it important for viewers to have access to these images" and see the extradition proceedings for themselves. "

Yahoo to launch Chinese version of Flickr

Yahoo plans on launching a Chinese language version of its popular photo-sharing site Flickr.com, to tap demand from Chinese digital photo enthusiasts. "The HK traditional Chinese interface of Flickr will be available later this year," a Hong Kong-based spokeswoman said in an email to Reuters.

"The new Web site will target Hong Kong users and will offer all core features currently available on the English platform, the spokeswoman said, without elaborating."

EU asks citizens: What's your comfort level with RFID?

European citizens may have the chance to help shape legislation on how RFID tags will be used for commercial purposes in Europe, writes Ars Technica .

"A year-long consultation on citizen reaction to RFID done by the European Commission resulted in the group announcing at CeBIT that it will back out of regulating RFID use itself and instead will allow stakeholders to make decisions about further regulation.

This will involve putting together a group of citizens, scientists, data protection experts, and businesses to discuss the use of the tags and assist the Commission in determining whether further regulation is needed."

Read more