MediaFLO

LAS VEGAS--Mobile TV may finally hit the mainstream when cell phones throughout the U.S. are able to access local TV for free.

The Open Mobile Video Coalition, an organization made up of consumer electronics companies, broadcasters, and mobile TV companies, has finished a standard for new chips that will allow mobile devices, such as cell phones, to receive broadcast TV signals. The new technology is already making its way into prototype devices and is being shown off here at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Starting in March, broadcasters in Washington, D.C., will be the first to test the mobile … Read more

FLO TV, provider of the FLO TV live mobile TV service, announced last Friday that it plans to go national, with at least 39 additional markets by the end of the year. This was sparked by the DTV transition last Friday, which freed up the broadband spectrum needed for FLO TV's dedicated network. Fifteen new markets went live as soon as the DTV trigger was pulled, and those include Boston, Houston, Miami, and San Francisco (at last!). The 24 other markets aren't slated until later this year. Qualcomm also said that existing markets like Chicago and New York … Read more

Research In Motion, maker of the popular BlackBerry smartphones, reportedly is preparing to announce a new video download service for its BlackBerry phones at the CTIA trade show next week in Las Vegas.

The blog NewTeeVee, which reported the news earlier this week, said that the service will be offered as an unlimited monthly subscription service. And it adds that RIM has already signed several broadcast and cable partners to offer up content. But instead of streaming the video over the 3G wireless network, RIM is planning a service that will allow the videos to be downloaded using Wi-Fi connections, … Read more

I must admit, I never really saw the point in having TV on my cell phone. That was until Tuesday.

I was one of the lucky people who was able to get to my ticketed-spot on the National Mall to see Barack Obama become the 44th president of the United States. I trekked more than two hours through a sea of people along the streets of Washington, D.C., to make it to the "Silver" gate for a standing-room view of the inauguration. And I withstood the freezing temperatures throughout the rest of the day to watch the … Read more

Qualcomm may be preparing to launch its MediaFlo mobile TV service in the U.K.

The company this week said it has won 40MHz of wireless spectrum in the U.K. that would be ideal for mobile TV and broadband services. The spectrum is in what's known as the L-band, which is between the frequencies 1452MHz and 1492MHz.

Ofcom, the telecom regulator in the U.K., auctioned off the spectrum earlier this month. And Qualcomm, a wireless chipmaker and mobile patent holder, came away the big winner spending 8.3 million British pounds, or $16.1 million.

So far … Read more

It's that time of year again when U.S. cell phone executives gather at the semi-annual CTIA Wireless trade show to show off new products and hobnob with each other. But this year it seems like some companies are working extra hard to clear the air before they hit the Las Vegas show floor.

Trade shows are typically where companies make new product announcements. And while I'm sure there will be some new handsets and services announced at CTIA, my feeling is that some of the more troubled companies like Sprint Nextel and Motorola, will use the conference … Read more

AT&T said Thursday that it will start offering live mobile TV service from MediaFlo in May, but will anyone be watching?

AT&T first announced its partnership with MediaFlo in February 2007. Back then it said it expected the service to begin by the end of 2007. AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel told Reuters the company waited until May to offer the service because it was "a brand new service on a brand new network, and two brand new devices."

The new service will operate on two new handsets, the LG Vu and the Samsung Access. … Read more

We once thought the LG Vu would be the first device to carry AT&T's MediaFLO-powered mobile TV service, but as it turns out, it's not the only one to share the limelight. Following the news of AT&T's May launch of AT&T Mobile TV, Samsung put out a press release about the Samsung Access, which will be one of two devices to launch with the service. Check out our Samsung Access slide show to see it in all its glory.

The candy-bar-style phone is a lot slimmer than the Vu, plus it … Read more

If leaked sources are to be believed, AT&T may break out a new mobile TV service courtesy of Qualcomm's MediaFLO in the form of the very sleek and sexy LG Vu. RCR Wireless News reports that AT&T is going to launch the live broadcast service with two exclusive channels as early as February 5. Verizon Wireless currently offers eights live TV channels as part of its own deal with MediaFLO in the form of V Cast TV, but does not currently have any "exclusive" channels, though some will be added in the future.… Read more