The Financial Times reports on how the BBC’s video on demand software, iPlayer, originally designed for computers, looks very promising for use on cellular phones via 3G and Wi-Fi. I completely agree.
The iPlayer has been a big hit for viewing previous BBC programs in the U.K. — the only location where works — and is beginning to be launched for mobile devices. The BBC released a player for cellular phones last September, including using the Apple iPhone and iPod touch to receive programs via Wi-Fi.
The iPlayer is now available for Nokia’s N96 handset (see below), which features a relatively large screen (although not as high as some other expensive phones), that’s designed for mobile TV and incorporates software for watching DVB-H programs. The FT notes the iPlayer for the N96 is significant because BBC programs can now be viewed via 3G.
Courtesy of Nokia’s bloggers program, I have an N96. Unfortunately, the DVB-H capability doesn’t do me any good because there’s no DVB-H service in the United States.
The iPlayer is available for several other high-end phones, including the Nokia N85 (which I also have; very nice OLED), the Samsung Omnia and Sony Ericsson C905. Those phones can use the iPlayer over Vodafone and 3. More handsets are on the way, the article says.
Other U.K. mobile TV efforts
British Sky Broadcasting offers subscription-based live feeds of its news and sports to more than 200,000 subscribers. Also, 100,000 people pay for soccer clips for about five pounds ($8) a month, the article says.
Other content providers, such as Babelgum (see below), Livestation and Joost, are entering the U.K. mobile video market, mostly for the iPhone and new Nokia phones. Babelgum is slated to be available for cellular phones in the United States later this year.
The FT says these new entrants are trying to fill the gap left by other mobile TV services, such as Virgin Mobile’s Lobster service, which I previously discussed. Valerio Zingarelli, the chief executive officer of Babelgum and a former director at Vodafone, says it’s very difficult to convince people to pay for mobile TV, and he hopes Babelgum will succeed through advertising and revenue-sharing with Vodafone.
Personally speaking…
I’d love to be able to use iPlayer on my phones and computers. I’d even consider paying (gasp!) for the service.
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