Monte Silver writes "Putting aside vendor-sponsored research, users have yet to adopt Mobile TV. Furthermore, it is unclear whether a technology exists that can actually deliver streamed TV to the mass-market. The fact is, however, that Mobile TV and Mobile Internet could have been delivered years ago on existing networks and devices, in ways far more user-friendly. Background-download for the former, and on-device-portals for the latter, are two such solutions. Unfortunately, while they are user and network friendly - hence these solutions are vendor unfriendly. They do not require any upgrades, and thus face an uphill battle, so long as the industry marches to the vendor beat".

This article is strictly the view point of Monte Silver and not necessarily that of the portal. However, I will agree with him that the needs of "on the go" users can be well served by background download technologies. Streaming technologies do not add any significant value to it. You might also like to read my piece "Mobile TV – A Fallacy from the Day One" under "Some Strategic Thoughts" – Mike Gauba (Publisher)

Since the introduction of cellular data networks, data applications have enjoyed a constant hype.  Attending mobile trade shows, one could easily identify the annual killer-application. Mobile Internet, MMS (multimedia/picture messaging), streaming and Mobile TV* have all enjoyed much more than their 15 minutes of fame, but none have delivered anything but a trickle of early-adopters.  While there can be no single explanation for this failure, the unspoken truth is that these services have failed mainly because they been generated to serve the interests of industry, and primarily network and handset vendors.  Unfortunately, the user is low on the totem pole of interests.  Although we all hold devices and constantly fiddle with their buttons, we refuse to adopt the data services offered.  If services continue to primarily serve industry, and particularly the vendors, rather than the user, expensive new networks will be launched, but used by few.

It can not be disputed that streaming services generally, and Mobile TV specifically have been the dandy of vendors for years.  Attending Nokia developer events as early back as 2002, one could watch Nokia keynote speakers demonstrate the live streaming of TV programs, and promoting it as the next big thing.  At 3GSM, the industry's main trade show, topics such as Push to Talk and Instant Messaging have received some attention, but Mobile TV has for years enjoyed unparallel exposure.  In the high-tech industry, where Next Big Things enjoy a short shelf life, the on-going obsession with Mobile TV requires examination.

The reason for the vendor obsession with Mobile TV is clear: vendors will inherently promote services which favor network and handset upgrades, and thus vendor sales.    Mobile TV has been the main weapon that vendors have hyped and exploited to get operators to keep upgrading their networks#. The reason is clear: of all the rich-media services, streaming generally, and Mobile TV specifically place the greatest demand on the radio network, the most precious network resource.  By promoting Mobile TV, vendors are directly causing operators to upgrade or replace networks each time vendors produce a new radio technology.

 

Continued...

* Mobile TV means the streaming of television content to the mobile phone.  As with streaming in the PC/internet world, Mobile TV involves the simultaneous delivery and viewing of the content.  Nothing is saved or downloaded on the phone.  Mobile TV can be contrasted to a "download first and watch later" experience.  As with email attachments, a downloaded file (which can even be a TV episode) resides on the mobile phone and can be viewed at will.

#Since crippling carriers with outrageous costs for 3G (third generation) networks and spectrum, vendors have introduced new network technologies at a pace fierce and furious.  HSDPA and DVBH are the latest technologies hyped by vendors as crucial for the success of Mobile TV.  MBMS and BCMSC are futuristic vendor technologies lurging in the shadows.  All technologies mentioned above require new handset types and either new or upgraded networks.