Iraq has begun DVB-H commercial mobile television service, Mobision, using content from Alsumaria, an Iraqi satellite television network, according to Alsumaria’s press release.
The service began May 28 and features some 20 channels. I don’t know most of them (which isn’t surprising!), but I recognize Al Jazeera (which I’ve watched on the Web), Al Arabiya, National Geographic Channel and Star Movies.
Mobision offers two mobile TV devices, the Samsung SGH P960 phone (see below) and the Quantum personal media player. The company also is working to certify other handsets, which it says include Nokia, Sagem, LG and ZTE.
Costs, microSD features
The subscription is based on prepaid cards for one month for 18,000 Iraqi Dinars ($15.53), three months for 45,000 ID ($38.84) and one year for 165,000 ID ($142.41). That seems a very reasonable price to me, assuming there aren’t other required charges, such as an expensive cellular data plan.
It also requires a microSD card provided by Mobision from Nagravision, and I don’t know if there’s an additional charge for that. The service doesn’t require a SIM card for viewing.
The microSD is used for security and for storing user files, but it also could be used to bundle variety of other content, ranging from videos to advertisements. Very interestingly, one article reports, “…Mobision subscribers have the ability to record and time-shift DVB-H services adding PVR (personal video recording) capabilities to mobile TV viewing.”
Recording mobile TV programs for later viewing? Many people would love that feature, but I haven’t heard of it being available. I wonder if mobile TV in Iraq will be the first to implement a PVR capability.
Coverage, signing up
The service covers northern and central Iraq, including Baghdad and Kurdistan. In a few months, Mobision plans to offer service in southern Iraq, including Basra and Diwaniyah.
Consumers sign up for service via SMS to a short code or by calling Mobision’s customer care number. Activation takes up to 24 hours.
Mobision has been testing the service since August 2008.
Most of these Iraqi TV channels can be accessed through satellite TV and even watched on PC.
http://www.computeruser.com/blogs/entry/satellite-tv-for-pc-watch-satellite-tv-on-your-pc/
Posted by: henry | January 28, 2010 at 12:48 AM