THE HAGUE, The Netherlands -- KPN has today started its first field trials of interactive digital television on a mobile device. KPN is holding the trials together with partners Nozema Services and Digitenne, supported by TNO. During the first phase, which will last several weeks, KPN will test various technical aspects of the service provisioning. An extensive practical trial with a few hundred users will follow later in the year. With this new application you will be able to watch ordinary television programs in 'real time' and in excellent quality on your mobile phone, just as if you were at home on the sofa.
The distribution of digital television to mobile phones will use the same infrastructure that KPN and Digitenne are using for digital TV. These services are broadcast using DVB-T technology. Images will be compressed to mobile phone format using DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld) technology, the standard for television on mobile equipment. The trial is based on Nokia's mobile TV solution, including network systems and the Nokia 7710 media device, equipped with a special DVB-H receiver, will be used during the trials.
During the trials, KPN will actively test the interactive possibilities with digital TV on a mobile device. By using the mobile network as well as broadcast infrastructure, watching television on your mobile will be more than just a passive experience. This will enable users to directly click-through to specific content, for example to download an mp3 or purchase a ringtone when watching the latest music video clip. SBS6, BBC World, NOS 24 uur journaal, Nederland 2 and MTV will provide initial programming for the trials. Besides viewing digital TV, DVB-H also enables digital radio broadcasts. Trial participants will be able to listen to Juize.FM from Radio 538.
With these mobile-TV trials, KPN is giving further body to its TV offerings in the form of 'anytime, anywhere' access to desired content. Depending on the results of the pilot, KPN expects to bring mobile digital television to market during 2006.
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