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Wednesday, 28 March 2007 |
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The claims and counter-claims around rival mobile TV standards get louder by the day. If only demand would reach such noisy levels.
Following trials of MediaFLO technology for mobile video involving Japanese operator KDDI and the technology’s developers, Qualcomm, a survey of 3,000 customers has given a ‘thumbs up’ for the technology. The user research was carried out by Accenture and reported “compelling evidence for the commercial viability of MediaFLO services in the Japanese market.”
Many in Europe and North America regard Japan as a key proving ground for mobile TV services. This comes at a time when rival technologies from Europe and Japan are vying for the limelight. These rivals include the Europe-backed DVB-H and sundry other developing norms.
Occasionally they seem to ignore the fact that the demand for mobile TV on a paid-for basis has yet to match cable and satellite alternatives. Yet the Accenture research showed a preference for paid MediaFLO-based services over ‘free’ alternatives available in Japan such as ISDB-T.
"We see Japan as a leading market for deployment of advanced mobile services like mobile TV," said Peggy Johnson, president, QUALCOMM Internet Services and MediaFLO Technologies. "The survey results demonstrate the full potential of multichannel broadcasting in Japan, and we will continue to work with KDDI to make MediaFLO available to Japanese consumers. We believe that MediaFLO is the right mobile broadcasting technology for the demanding Japanese audience."
"We are convinced that the survey results illustrate that paid mobile broadcasting services are attractive to Japanese customers despite the availability of the free ISDB-T service, and we believe that both services can co-exist," said Kazuhiko Masuda, president of MediaFLO Japan Planning Incorporated, a JV between the two parties. "Based on these extremely positive results, MediaFLO Japan Planning Incorporated intends to move forward with preparations for a commercial service in Japan."
Mobile protagonists, industrialists, analysts and agony aunts will continue to watch events in Japan with care.
Jim Chalmers
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