Reiter's Mobile TV Report

Akamai to offer HTTP adaptive streaming for iPhone 3GS, iPod touch

From Gigaom I see that Akamai Technologies’ servers will offer HTTP adaptive streaming to the Apple iPhone 3GS and iPod touch via the newest OS X mobile operating system version 3.0, says Akamai’s press release.

As I wrote several days ago, HTTP adaptive streaming adjusts and compensates for data rate fluctuations in streaming video — wireless or wired — to offer the best quality based on the data speed.  It’s not a new technology, but it’s available now in the iPhone 3GS and will be available when the Apple’s new operating system version, Snow Leopard, is released later this year.

Akamai has established a demonstration Web site to showcase the technology (see below).  Content companies providing videos for the site include the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Discovery, Fox News, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, MTV, NPR, Turner Sports and USA Today, Akamai says.

Inlet Technologies’ software is encoding the live and video on demand highlights on that “iPhone 3.0 Video Showcase” site.

Business implications

As I noted in my previous blog posting, HTTP adaptive streaming runs in the Safari browser, without requiring a specific application.  That means content companies can offer video streaming without an app downloaded from iTunes and, possibly, without either Apple’s or AT&T’s approval.

HTC's Android Hero handset to include Adobe Flash Player 9 features

HTC’s upcoming Android-based cellular phone, the Hero (see below), will incorporate the functionality of Flash Player 9, which employs ActionScript 2, says Adobe’s press release and CNET News.

Although the Hero won’t initially include the more advanced version of Flash — Flash Player 10 with ActionScript 3 — the handset will able to play a large amount of Flash content, including many video clips, television programs and movies as well as games and other animated Web content.  Also, Adobe expects to offer a beta version of Flash Player 10 in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a commercial version in the first half of 2010.

[Adobe has posted a video highlighting the Android’s Flash capabilities (see below).]

Unfortunately, the current Flash software is specific to the Hero, and users of other Android phones won’t be able to download that version, CNET News says.  However, Adobe has been actively working on full versions of Flash for a variety of handsets, so the Hero won’t remain the only phone with Flash 9 or 10.

Significant for mobile TV

The incorporation of a cellular phone version of Flash that’s close to or the same as the version on computers is a significant development for mobile television.  A huge number of videos are coded in Flash.

If users are able to stream the many TV programs and movies already posted on the Web — without paying a separate monthly mobile TV fee — it could adversely affect paid subscriptions.  I discussed this further in my article in February when Adobe said it was developing a full version of Flash for phones for 2010.

U.S. cellular operators as well as companies and organizations in the mobile TV business, such as the Open Mobile Video Coalition, Qualcomm’s FLO TV and MobiTV, will have to consider the potential affects of millions of Flash-enabled handsets.

PR executive mistakenly believes iPhone 3G S video is bad for TV news stations

Ben Haber, an executive at the public relations firm Racepoint Group, blogs that the new Apple iPhone 3G S is bad news for television news stations because everyone now will be acting as citizen journalists.

My reaction:  Baloney.

Haber’s views

I want to provide the full effect of Haber’s comments, so here is a large excerpt from his blog post: 

“We have already witnessed newspapers collapse at the feet of the Internet.  While many are hanging on (by a thread) some have already given up and become online-only or closed down completely.

“Next in line are the news stations.

“On June 19th our entire media structure will change with the release of the iPhone 3G S.  The ability to record, edit and post video online within seconds may be the largest difference-maker since email.  While it’s going to use social media as tools, mobile video is going to catch on faster the Facebook and have a larger impact then Twitter – it’s going to be massive….

“So beginning on June 19^th [when the iPhone 3G S is available] everything that happens — anywhere — is fair game….

“Every athlete and celebrity should prepare to have their actions documented in video when they are in public, and any type of event will be publicly broadcast on YouTube just seconds after it happens — which is where TV stations get hit.  From this point forward, citizens are now the leading news reporters.

“TV Stations [sic] are now behind the curve and will begin to join newspapers in line at the history museum unless they adapt with the times.  They will need to embrace mobile video, not shy away from it and ignore it.

“They will need to engage with their viewers and talk with them, work with them, and embrace them.  Finally, they need to offer additional insight and analysis that we can’t find on YouTube.”

My views

To coin a phrase, in what cave has Haber been living for the past several years and in what cave does he think TV stations have been living?

Has he never seen — let alone used — a camera phone with good video recording capabilities?  Perhaps he has used a camera phone but has been unable to figure out how to transmit videos from his phone to video sharing sites? 

Has he never seen the enormous number of camera phone videos on YouTube, Vimeo, Yahoo Video, etc.?  Has he never seen the huge number of camera phone videos of news events — posted online for years — including those from Iran?

Based on what Haber wrote he appears amazingly unfamiliar with the explosion of video recording on camera phones around the world.  What’s more, he thinks TV stations also are blind to the situation.  Perhaps he’s not familiar with CNN’s iReport or the camera phone videos used by TV stations and the discussions about mobile video in TV stations across the country.

Swayed by the God Apple?

Perhaps Haber has “seen the light” of the Godhead iPhone 3G S and realized that cellular phones can be used for video recording (see below)!  Who knew?!

To be just slightly more charitable, perhaps Haber realizes camera phones with video recording capabilities exist, but believes the new iPhone will let loose the sole clarion call responsible for creating millions of “citizen journalists” — whom he doesn’t seem to think have existed before June 19.

Although I haven’t yet tested the iPhone 3G S, I assume it will indeed be very easy to shoot videos and post them to Web sites.  I also assume it will spark many more people to shoot and post videos.

But to write, as Haber does, that “the world will change” for TV news stations is rather ridiculous.

Safaricom in Kenya launches 13 channels of mobile TV, free until 2010

Kenyan cellular operator Safaricom has launched a mobile TV service with 13 channels using the DVB-H protocol, according to Kenya Broadcasting Corp. (KBC), which will be one of the channels.  The service is available in Nairobi and Kenya’s second largest city, Mombasa, with other cities planned for the future, reports Bloomberg.

The service is provided through Digital Mobile Television Kenya (DMTV)  — 25 percent owned by KBC — and will be free, although reports vary as to when the free period will end.  Bloomberg says it will be free for a year, but KBC says it will last until April 2010. 

After the free period, it will cost 1,000 Kenya shillings ($12.81) per month, says Bloomberg.  DMTV hopes to sign up 1.3 million people — ten percent of Safaricom’s subscribers — within the year, Bloomberg says.

Nokia compatibility

Nokia cellular phones with integrated DVB-H receivers — the N96 and N77 — as well as Nokia phones that are compatible with Nokia’s Mobile TV Receiver SU-33W (see left) will work with the service, according to KBC.  (Courtesy of Nokia, I have the N96 but, unfortunately, there is no DVB-H service in the United States.)

The two-ounce, battery-powered Mobile TV Receiver contains a tuner and an internal antenna and connects to handsets via Bluetooth.  Compatible Nokia phones include the N79, N85, N86, N97, E75 and 5800 Xpress Music.

BBC World News available on iPhone/iPod touch in 16 European countries

Users of Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch in 16 European countries may live-stream the ”BBC World News” (see below) for free over 3G and WiFi, after paying 7.99 euros ($11.18) to purchase the application from the iTunes App Store, the BBC reports.

The countries where the “BBC World News” app is available are:  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The application also includes access to the BBC’s cellular news Web site.  When viewing the “BBC World News” live TV feed, the quality is “standard” over 3G, but available for viewing in higher quality, if desired, over WiFi.

The BBC cautions users that approximately 7.2MB are streamed every ten minutes when watching the TV program.  So you had better be on an unlimited data plan — or wealthy if you plan to watch it on a per-kilobyte or per-megabyte plan (such as when roaming).

No others need apply

For the fun of it, I clicked on the link on the BBC page to obtain the “BBC World News” app.  Up popped a message that read:  “The item you’ve requested is not currently available in the U.S. store, but it’s available in the French store.  Click Change Store to view this item.”

So I clicked and the app was displayed (see below).  I don’t have an iPhone (although it’s getting increasingly tempting with each new OS and new applications) or an iPod touch. 

Even if I did have the phone or iPod, I assume the geographical restriction would prohibit the “BBC World News” from being streamed over AT&T Mobility — if I were even allowed to purchase it from the French App Store while in the United States.  I didn’t try to find out.

Mobision begins mobile TV in Iraq with 20 channels, two devices

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.

Arima phone software facilitates sending SMS when watching mobile TV

Arima Communications has designed handset software that makes it easier to transmit and read SMS messages when watching mobile television, which could increase cellular operator revenues, the Taiwanese company says.

When the SMS-TV software is enabled, the phone’s screen resizes to include an SMS message window which facilitates sending as well as reading messages.  The software allows any type of message, of course — not just about mobile TV — but Arima is promoting the TV tie in.

The company says the capability “is targeted towards consumers who want to chat with one another while watching their favorite programs as well as those who like to interact with participation TV programs through voting or polling.” 

Arima notes that cellular operators could highlight this feature to encourage sending SMS which, obviously, could increase operator revenues — especially important for mobile TV service that is offered for free, rather than subscription-based.  The feature will be available in handsets this summer, Arima says.

Palm Pre, available June 6, to offer Sprint TV, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile

The entire technology blogosphere will be all over Sprint’s announcement this morning that the Palm Pre (see left) will be available on June 6, but I just wanted to note that the Pre will be include mobile television and videos, including Sprint TV and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Live.

The handset will be available for $199.99, after a $100 mail-in rebate, with a two-year contract.  Sprint will, of course, be selling it (duh), as well as Best Buy, Radio Shack and some Wal-Mart stores.

The Pre requires an Everything Data” plan or a “Business Essentials with Messaging and Data Plan” -- both of which include mobile TV channels.  So you'll receive mobile TV as standard, but you can't get the handset with a cheap voice-only plan.

Updated...further thoughts:  The Pre has 8GB of memory, but no memory card slot.  For most people, 8GB is enough for store all their files, including photos, music and videos.

But I'd be surprised if most Pre users weren't heavy data users.  So some users -- especially those who store lots of videos recorded with the Pre as well as downloaded TV programs and even movies -- 8GB could be limiting.

Also, the Pre's 3.1-inch screen with 320 x 480 resolution is nice for viewing mobile TV.  Some people are wondering whether Hulu might offer an app for the Pre, but there's no indication that will happen in the near future.

There are reports, though, of a Hulu app for the iPhone, that would allow streaming over WiFi and 3G.  However, with Apple and/or AT&T responsible for prohibiting SlingPlayer Mobile's streaming iPhone app from using 3G, I wonder if a Hulu iPhone app would be allowed to use cellular, rather than just WiFi.

SlingPlayer Mobile reportedly set for iPhone TV streaming via Wi-Fi + $29.99

It looks as if SlingMedia’s long-awaited SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone (see below) is finally going to be available — after you pay $29.99 for the software and stream via Wi-Fi only, according to Engadget.

Several weeks ago the blogosphere reported AT&T Mobility had pressured Apple to reject the application because the cellular operator feared it would put too much strain on the network, as I noted.  Apparently, restricting SlingPlayer to Wi-Fi was enough to convince AT&T to allow the service.

Engadget tested SlingPlayer Mobile and found it worked well enough, although there were some performance issues.  “Even on WiFi, control feels laggy, and there's no native guide (though there's an icon to quickly pull up your set-top box's guide). 

“When you're in letterbox mode, you've got black bars around all four sides of the image, meaning that the app isn't taking full advantage of the phone's display; we're hopeful this'll be fixed in a future release, though.  Happily, we think Sling really nailed the app's UI — the on-screen translucent controls are pretty cool and generally work well without obscuring the view,” Engadget reports.

Wi-Fi rocks

I’ve always been a big fan of Wi-Fi integrated into cellular phones, and people are naive when they contend 3G obviates the need for Wi-Fi.  I’m really irritated when cellular phones prevent me from using Wi-Fi to its full extent, such as downloading or streaming podcasts, either because the cellular operator or the operating system restricts the type and/or size of files.

At least some cellular operators and other telecommunications operators are offering more free, wide area Wi-Fi, as I wrote today in my Internet Evolution column (see left).

BBC iPlayer Factoid: BBC creates about 14 video formats, including mobile

The BBC’s iPlayer, which is available for a variety of devices, is formatted in about 14 different ways, including for cellular (see below), according CNET Crave UK’s interview with Anthony Rose, the BBC’s Controller of the Online and Media Group.

Rose says in the interview, “We create about 14 different formats, ranging from about 160Kbps for some mobile, over-the-air streaming, through to 1,500Kbps for our highest iPlayer SD quality stream, in H.264 played out as flash.  We also create 3Mbps [for standard definition] on Virgin Media, and now for our HD content we create 3.2Mbps HD.  So it's about 14 or 15 flavours. 

“We typically make a 3GP format, which is really H.264.  We make VP6, H.264, MPEG-2 and we make Windows Media Video….Our Flash player can play the H.264 or VP6 files, and the mobile formats might play out often in RealPlayer on a mobile device.”

Alas, poor Americans

Unfortunately, for Americans it doesn’t matter how many formats are available.  The BBC iPlayer isn’t available for us (as in “U.S.”).