News
BBC and O2 'interested' in MediaFLO mobile TV
Stuart O'Brien May 19 2008, 8:42am
Possibility of UK MediaFLO launch receives warm reception from local players.
The FT says broadcaster BBC and operator O2 are both open to hearing more from Qualcomm regarding a possible launch of MediaFLO broadcast mobile TV services in the UK.
Last week US-based Qualcomm paid £8.3m for L-band radio spectrum in the UK to launch what it called 'innovative wireless services', with mobile TV said to be top of its agenda.
Having already conducted a 'successful' trial of its MediaFLO tech with pay TV provider BSkyB last year, it now seems Qualcomm may have some more willing UK partners.
The FT quotes an O2 representative as saying: "MediaFlo is a technology well suited to providing TV to mobiles.
As always, it's about having a good range of handsets and getting the customer experience right."
The article quotes the BBC, meanwhile, as saying it was interested in mobile TV and talked to all the main players, adding: "We are watching the current situation with interest."
Last month Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm's chief executive, told the FT that he was confident MediaFlo would be rolled out in Europe, adding the company was eager to work with mobile operators.
MediaFLO mobile TV services are currently lie with Verizon and AT&T in the US.
