WiMAX provider Clearwire (that recently announced a partnership with Sprint’s WiMAX efforts) and satellite/terrestrial networking company ICO Global Communications have teamed up to test mobile television, according to the press release.
The agreement “to collaborate on one of the industry's first mobile video trials” (One of the first? Are they kidding?) will test interactive video. Perhaps they mean one of the first interactive terrestrial + satellite mobile video trials.
The release says, “In addition to testing mobile video broadcast, the trial will also examine the feasibility of utilizing Clearwire's 2.5 GHz spectrum and ICO's 2.0 GHz spectrum more efficiently.” ICO and Clearwire are slated to test interactive video in Raleigh, N.C. in early 2008 and ICO plans a test in Las Vegas.
Video terminals
Alcatel-Lucent is providing infrastructure equipment and Hughes Network Systems will provide “the device,” that I assume is the video device. The press release says videos will be sent to “large-screen user devices.”
Does that mean the tests will involve specially designed portable video terminals rather than phones? It seems so.
For ICO, the tests might pave the way to offering a variety of services, of which mobile video is just one. Tim Bryan, ICO’s chief executive officer, says in the release, “Mobile two-way video, advanced interactive navigation, plus emergency calling and messaging becomes an even more compelling value proposition when integrated with a wireless broadband network such as Clearwire's.”
Comments