To come: RTE on your mobile
RTE is currently trialling a DAB-IP (ie digital transmission) TV service on special mobile phones. It is broadcasting both RTE1 and RTE2 on a signal that can be picked up on HTC's Trilogy mobile phone handset. The idea is that one of the mobile phone operators will sign up to the technology and launch the service commercially, a product that Virgin Mobile is about to do in Britain. RTE's head of operations, JP Coakley, told me that he couldn't see a reason why the service wouldn't be taken up "by the end of the year". I got my hands on one of the HTC handsets the week before last and the reception and quality of the broadcast is excellent. It also has no problem playing in stereo, unlike Vodafone's 3G Sky TV service. The HTC handset also has Windows Mobile on it.
The Irish company* in the field will presumably be none to happy with the fact that RTE have chosen DAB instead of DVB-H
* http://www.s3group.com/digital_consumer/onhandtv/
Posted by: Dave | July 10, 2006 at 10:09 PM
Didn't know about S3's service, Dave. Thanks.
Posted by: Adrian | July 12, 2006 at 11:29 AM
The rest of Europe seems to be using DVB-H or DMB. What is DAB. I was part of the trial started by the MNOs during the world cup and I can say that Mobile TV is ok but nothing to write home about!
Posted by: Neil | July 14, 2006 at 02:50 PM