Sony, Ericsson aim for TV on mobiles by 2008

While Sony's been dealing with exploding batteries, PS3 craziness and now a recall for some Cyber-shot cams, the Japanese behemoth's handset division is trying to expand into the mobile television sector by partnering with Ericsson. Already the two form a significant presence in cellphones with the Sony Ericsson brand, and they hope to continue that with television as well. Per Nordlof, Ericsson's director of Product Strategy, said at a press conference in Stockholm on Thursday that a third of the world's mobile phone users will be watching TV on their handsets on a regular basis by 2008 -- something the folks at Qualcomm and others are thinking, too, with MediaFLO and the like. According to The Associated Press, the corporate duo is also working on a way to send clips from your living room's TV directly to a handset. Of course, if you don't want to wait until 2008, you could just buy a Slingbox or a Sony LVTV Box right now for the same effect.

Read - Reuters
Read - The Associated Press

[james @ Nov 26th 2006 7:43AM]

while this sounds awsome im not sure if every one eles in the world is just a touch behind in the time but recently and not so recently in australia my fave country has aounced tv on mobiles 1st through 3 mobile carrier offering a few cable channels such as news the next was optus who offered a few more channels but nothing to great more recently though telstra. although it could be argued the biggest mobile carrier in aus recently launched its 3g network offering the full foxtel channels on there mobiles these inculde all of australias 4 majour network channels plus all of the cable channels for somthing like 4$ aus per month. the picture is decent enough to watch and mostly worth it. this said telstra offering a wide variety of 3g sony erricsson mobiles im surprised that this could be called an annoucment as in my veiw this could have been an anoucment about 6months ago
catch ya on the flip

[Intrepid @ Nov 26th 2006 8:02AM]

Like James, I have noticed many networks offering mobile tv in my area (Australia), and in fact I have watched it before. It's not half bad, and there is already a lot of content.
Offered on Optus, Telstra and 3.

[John Shillabeer @ Nov 26th 2006 8:01AM]

James:
You really need to work on writing better sentences. :)

A few years ago, Optus tried to launch mobile TV on the GSM network, but wasn't too popular and flopped. In the last month or so, Telstra launched the "Next G" network to replace the CDMA network. This network has more bandwidth than the standard 3G network, thus allowing TV channels to be streamed to mobiles on the NextG network. This service costs $12 a month, for 12 channels. As James said, the quality is decent, and streams well.

I'm just waiting for it to all be free. :)

[Dave Pevsner @ Nov 26th 2006 8:04AM]

LVTV or LFTV?

and the CDMA companies are already delivering live TV over the EVDO towers, and I'm sure the GSM companies plan on doing it the second their HSDPA and UMTS networks are up.

[Joel Rose @ Nov 26th 2006 8:12AM]

Here in Japan they've had free digital TV on mobile phones for several months after having it in test markets for awhile. Seems to be going well... I see guys in train stations watching TV. Of course, you have to have specific phone models to recieve the signals- but, if I understand it corrently, it's free. Seems kinda cool. I'm not huge on Japanese TV, so I didn't bother to pick one up... too many variety shows and dull dramas.

[Nick @ Nov 26th 2006 8:42AM]

Engadget - you are treating this Sony Ericsson thing like it's a new venture? they've been a joint company for years now, ever since the T68i.

[kOa7 @ Nov 26th 2006 9:24AM]

For once I'm on the side of the people who say "keep my phone a phone." Well, keep my smart phone a smart phone. TV is not smart. It is 95% the opposite. Is this a way of ducking out of ubiquitious net access and narrowcasting on demand?

[Dave @ Nov 26th 2006 10:00AM]

It's from Sony ... I'm sure nothing will go wrong...

[Castle @ Nov 26th 2006 10:02AM]

Japan already has digital/analog broadcast that get picked up by cell phones and navi systems in cars.

As far as the Slingbox and LFTV goes, you'll need to get an unlimited wireless data plan to even use those (which can cost a pretty penn), and something with PocketPC for Slingbox. I use a Slingbox and PocketPC and it works only sporadically.

[yaromir @ Jan 15th 2007 3:12PM]

In Japan, Sharp W-ZERO3 is already sold in one package with Slingbox for $414. I don't why the U.S. carriers are so cautious about Slingbox.
http://analytica1st.com/analytica1st/2007/01/willcom-sells-w-zezo3-smartphone-in.html