May 29, 2007
Welcome to movie phones
An opinion piece by The Los Angeles Times on how movies on a cell phone memory card could challenge carriers and remake the content experience.
"... Device manufacturers are boosting the processing power and storage capacity of mobile phones to entice consumers to spend more on a handset. They're no longer selling phones, but miniature computers that take the place of iPods, camcorders and portable video players. And they're built to connect to a PC or the Internet without using up minutes from the owner's monthly airtime quota.
The most vivid example of this is Apple's iPhone, which is due next month. Just like its iPod brethren, the iPhone will be able to copy the music, TV shows and movies stored on its owner's computer. To connect to the Internet, it will not only be able to use AT&T's relatively slow EDGE data network, but also any free or commercial WiFi network in range.
With those capabilities, iPhone owners won't even need AT&T's wireless network to make a call, let alone download a hit song (AT&T has, so far, refrained from offering full-song downloads through its wireless network).
... The effect on the entertainment industry, though, is not so clear. The control that carriers have wielded over their networks and the devices that connect to them has been a mixed blessing for Hollywood and the record companies."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2007/05/016056.htm