According to recent media reports, a trial conducted by UK phone operator O2 showed that there was a strong demand for mobile TV, with 76% of the trial’s participants suggesting they would take up such a service within a year.
Another trial conducted by BT and Virgin revealed slightly less optimistic results. The results of this trial indicated that mobile phone users preferred to use their phones to listen to digital radio rather than for watching TV and revealed that consumers would only be willing to pay up to GBP8 per month for such a service, according to reports.
Although mobile TV is already available on Vodafone, 3 and 3G networks, the services expected to be offered on the Virgin network and the O2 network will be operated using rival technologies. While Virgin is expected to deploy internet-based technology, namely DAB-IP, O2 is expected to use DVB-H technology, which uses a broadcast signal to deliver the service.
In launching TV on mobile services mobile operators will be united in at least one of their aims, however; to drive up company revenues as result of expanded service offerings.
