Television programs on cell phones and other mobile devices took another step toward becoming widespread Thursday with AT&T’s announcement that it will launch its Mobile TV with FLO in May.
The mobile-TV service from the largest U.S. mobile carrier will provide high-quality, live television content and sporting events from leading networks, as well as programming from two exclusive channels. The networks include CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2GO, NBC News2Go, and Nickelodeon. AT&T already offers music services and Web access as it tries to boost its revenue from content while phone-service prices continue to drop.
Offered on Two Devices
The content of the two channels that will be available only to AT&T customers was not announced. Mobile TV with FLO is provided by MediaFLO USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm.
The TV service will be available initially only on two devices from AT&T, the LG Vu, which has a large interactive touch screen, and the Samsung Access, which features a large landscape display.
Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, noted that, with the possible exception of the two exclusive but undefined channels, AT&T’s service is essentially the same basic service offered by Verizon Wireless.
He described MediaFLO as “the best mobile-TV service I’ve seen,” adding that the “video is smooth, changing channels is instantaneous, and it feels like TV.” He also pointed out that it isn’t carried over the AT&T or Verizon networks, but over MediaFLO’s own network. As a result, the coverage for the MediaFLO services is not the same as the phone coverage on either AT&T or Verizon’s networks, Greengart said.
Slow Mobile-TV Growth
He said it’s probably best that AT&T waited to launch MediaFLO because it gave the service time to work out “the kinks,” including contracts with more content providers. But he…
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