The trial represented the first live use of its Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) and allows varying content to be broadcast in different areas of the mobile network. The service will enable networks to implement a wider variety of multimedia services than is currently available.
MBMS is also useful in that it supports the delivery of multimedia emergency alert information, a valuable complement to existing emergency alert systems. It enables notification of users in disaster areas with transmission of detailed information about what to do and where to go, including evacuation maps.
Hakan Eriksson, Ericsson CTO, said: As mobile broadcast technology evolves, we are seeing growing interest among operators to utilize their existing mobile networks for their multimedia services. Transferring media over telecom networks brings new opportunities for operators, content providers and end-users.
MBMS will be commercially available in the second half of 2007.
