News
Verizon begins to FLO
Stuart O'Brien Dec 1 2005, 2:15pm
US mobile operator Verizon Wireless has confirmed it will launch mobile TV services using Qualcomm's MediaFLO network next year.
Though an exact launch date has not been specified, Qualcomm recently told ME that it remained on course for an October 2006 launch of its mobile TV platform in the US and believes its superior business case will help it triumph over rival DVB-H mobile broadcast services in the region.
The CDMA chipset giant doesn’t see DVB-H, which is being pushed heavily by Nokia, launching before it in the US and claims the capital expenditure involved in building a DVB-H network will hinder its coming to market.
Rob Chandhok, MediaFLO’s VP of engineering and market development, said this is not the case for Qualcomm’s technology. “It’s always possible to build networks.
The point is, they have to make money. When we built MediaFLO we made choices that would let us make a business case for the technology. And this is why I believe it will succeed.”
In the MediaFLO business model operators will charge their customers between $15 to $25 a month for access to up to 20 live channels and 800 minutes of stored video (clipcasting). Qualcomm will aggregate the content from broadcasters and sell on to carriers for wholesale prices.
Outside of the US, Qualcomm will concentrate on using its engineering and technology expertise to assist handset companies and operators support alternative mobile TV platforms rather than managing the MediaFLO platform inhouse.
