GSM cellular operator AT&T/Cingular (the Web site's still "Cingular") will use Qualcomm's MediFLO mobile television technology for services "late in 2007," according to Qualcomm's press release.
This is a very big deal for Qualcomm, especially because most GSM cellular operators -- especially the Europeans -- favor the so-called "open" mobile TV protocol DVB-H. The more MediaFLO deals Qualcomm lines up, the more chipsets it will sell.
But Qualcomm's not just relying on MediaFLO. It has developing a "universal broadcast modem" chipset that combines DVB-H, ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting -- Terrestrial) and MediaFLO.
Mike Concannon, vice president of strategic products for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, says in the company's press release, "Qualcomm believes the adoption rate of mobile TV on handsets is poised to grow at an exponential rate, and we remain committed to supporting other standards that network operators may choose to deploy."
Verizon first
Verizon Wireless is the first operator in the United States to have publicly announced its use of MediaFLO and is slated to begin its V CAST Mobile TV streaming service during the first quarter of this year, as I've written.
Verizon's decision to use MediaFLO wasn't a big surprise, given its use of CDMA. Sprint, the second largest CDMA operator in the U.S., has tested MediaFLO but is pinning its hopes on WiMAX, at least so far.
You can endlessly debate the technological/financial merits of DVB-H versus MediaFLO -- as many in the wireless industry continue to do -- but the "simple" fact is many cellular companies hate Qualcomm because of what they consider its onerous licensing fees. They want to avoid contact with Qualcomm as much as they can.
(Disclosure: I have done a little bit of consulting for Qualcomm, but not in the mobile TV arena and no consulting currently.)
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