More on Mobile Broadcast TV

The ever-skeptical bloggers at TechDirt wireless have been cooking up some critiques of broadcast tv. They cite Juniper Research's latest study predicting that mobile-broadcast TV services will be a $6.6 billion market by the year 2012.

Author of this post, Mike Masnick, makes a good point that mobile users may not be inclined to watch TV programs while on the go - they'd rather settle for short video clips that focus more on communication than content. Furthermore, he cites TiVo and Slingbox as already existing solutions for broadband television - free solutions.

While it's true that these make-shift broadband television solutions exist, they can definitely be improved. On top of that, there exist many legitimate complaints that unlimited data plans aren't so unlimited, and streaming a half to a full megabyte a second is a quick way to get your plan turned off.

Look at my last post for my views on the progress of convergence.

Manhattan Interactive: City to broadcast public access over the internet

This New York Times article states that NYC TV clips - over 500 of them - can now be found on the internet through the city's website, www.nyc.gov. Dozens of clips will be added weekly, said Bloomberg, which can be searched by neighborhood or category, such as shopping, parks or food.

Users can also email video clips in, making this medium a sort of Interactive TV.

Al Gore, who recently won an Emmy for his work, has created Current TV, an independent media company that first went on air in August of 2005. The network features short programs, called "pods", of which about 30% are created by viewers.

This sort of interactive television again highlights the power of Web 2.0. As I've said in previous posts, user driven content is no fad, but the direction media is headed. Furthermore, as a 'mobilephile', I'm inclined to believe that the convergence of the standard web experience and the mobile web experience is happening faster than most realize. With applications like Current TV, or any IPTV for that matter, users will have even more reasons to go mobile.

Twenty years ago, very few thought it would be necessary to have a telephone with you at all times. Very few thought you'd need a personal computer. The internet was exclusively used for data exchange between researchers and scientists. A lot has changed since then - all three of those have converged, and are still doing so. It's quite exciting to witness these developments.

iPhone Improvements - An Article for Apple

This Computer World article is looking to give Apple a few pointers for their second crack at making the most accessible and feature-full mobile device on the market. As mystery shrouds the next generation iPhone release, one can only speculate as to what improvements will be made.

The first one on the list is a big one. 3G technology is where we're going. WiMax is where we're eventually headed , but for now, 3G chips should become standard in the US, and the iPhone should follow suit. Furthermore, the applications would run much smoother - mobile YouTube might even be able to run a few more videos.

Adding mobile iChat would be another huge feature for the iPhone. As mobile broadband steps up, mobile video conferencing would become possible.

Adding push email to the iPhone would help with enterprise solutions. Businesses might even pick it up as the primary work tool, as its features overshadow RIM's Blackberry or Palm's Treo.

There are others on that list, all of which would vastly improve the second generation iPhone.

Google and Unity - Under Sea Communications

What is being called "yet another foray into the telecommunications business," Google is considering joining a consortium, known as Unity, which wants to lay high capacity underwater cables across the Pacific Ocean. As I've mentioned before, Google is also looking to bid for the 700 MHz spectrum in January.

What does Google not have its hand in?

According to the above "Bits" article, Google has considered becoming part owner of undersea cables because it needs the bandwidth to move massive amounts of digital information between its international data centers. The company already leases bandwidth on some underwater cables, but having a hand in ownership may be less expensive.

Google's massive footprint is looking to extend itself. "Faster, Higher, Stronger" doesn't seem to just be the Olympic credo anymore. I'm starting to see Google as the new Microsoft. Instead of Windows, Google harnesses the power of Web 2.0 to deliver a truly universal platform. They web applications are quickly approaching the features and reliability that we've come to expect from Microsoft Outlook or Apple's iLife. They've even surpassed Microsoft with innovative map solutions, unprecedented search engines, including blogs, patents, scholarly reports, video, products, and images. They're even looking to step in on Microsoft's most prized possession; word processing and spreadsheets. With Google docs and spreadsheets, I can see users writing and editing documents on the go, from any internet capable device.

Convergence is coming along nicely, and Google has shown the ability to adapt. With a hand in telecom and a dynasty in data, Google's looking good. Google's looking very good.

MySpace Mobile

According to this Engadget Mobile article, mobile versions of MySpace are expanding past Helio's scope. As social networking goes mobile more and more carriers are going to cash in. In this case T-Mobile and Danger have included customized versions of MySpace Mobile for the Sidekick.

Soon enough we'll see MySpace Mobile, Facebook Mobile, even that Sprite Yard Mobile on every platform, from Windows Mobile, to Blackberry (and maybe even Apple's platform). I have a feeling that Mobile Social Networking, in fact, the mobile web itself, is not going to fade away. In the same way that word processing and spreadsheet creation were killer apps for the Apple II platform, social networking may be a must have for mobile technology. With Blackberry users are evolving from businessmen to socialite teens, the mobile web and applications like these are going to be used heavily.

Competitor's Take on the iPhone

This Laptop magazine article gives an amusing look at some of Apple's largest mobile competitors. The interview is with Helio, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung - pretty much the biggest players of the handset business.

Some of the thoughts were a bit backwards. The Helio rep doesn't believe that the touch screen will be a mainstay in the near future. The touch screen essentially allows the user to mimic "real" web browsing on a mobile device. This is probably the best feature of the iPhone, considering the terrible browsing experience on almost all other smartphones. As a Blackberry user, I can say that a 3.5" brilliant screen with actual pictures and formatting is a step up from a text-based display with a less than ideal user interface.

When asked about convergence, Helio, Motorola and Nokia all answered that consumers are looking all-in-one devices, and then give a free plug about their own devices, such as the N95 or the Ocean. Samsung, however, seems to have little to say on the subject, grabbing hold of GPS. All in all, convergence in the style of the iPhone is here to stay, according to these big players.

Nokia seems to place functionality over slimness of the device - which makes sense. Phones can only get so thin before they become frail and unusable.

Helio keeps finding a way to talk about the Ocean - when asked about a positive feature of the iPhone, the rep mentions the difference in feel between the two devices. Nokia does so as well, with the N95. Those two are probably the only two phones on the market that serve the same market as the iPhone.

Saving the best for last, Laptop Mag asks the four reps the dislikes that they have about the iPhone. Helio jumps on the lack of tactile keypad. To be honest, the software based keypad on the iPhone takes some getting used to, but actually provides a larger surface area and far more room for error than any tactile keypad could. With slimness, durability, and screen size all being taken into account, the lack of keypad is going to become the industry standard. As long as the software solutions are smart enough to compensate for potential mistakes, keypads will become a thing of the past. Nokia makes some fair points - the lack of 3G and and GPS. The lack of 3G is a big deal, but will soon be remedied in Apple's next generation (hopefully). Samsung also jumps on the battery life and lack of expandable memory. Fair points, however no other phone can compare with the amount of memory on the iPhone - it's still about 7 gigs ahead of the competition, with or without expandable ports.

Then, of course, Motorola tactfully declines to speak negatively about the iPhone; how classy.

iPhone anySim Solution

According to this Engadget Mobile post, anySim from the iPhone Dev Team has gotten a pretty good software unlock GUI. The source code for the application will be released in a few days.

The glaring T-Mobile up on the top left of that screen shot gives me great confidence in this unlocking solution. Although Apple seems to fall in the chic company category along with Google, they are not outspoken about open networks. Their silence with all the hacks going on may be their quiet condoning this practice. They certainly don't want to annoy their provider (although they might wield the power over AT&T with the killer product and all of the press and fans etc. etc.). Furthermore, AT&T is making some enemies with their 30 pound phone bills and poor service.

As Apple's iPhone finds its way to Europe, these unlocks will become more common and common. Next step - 3G.

Verizon files suit over FCC ruling n 700 MHz spectrum

According to this Reuters article, Verizon Wireless is filing suit, asking the FCC to overturn the open-access rules imposed on the 700 MHz spectrum to be auctioned off in January.

Verizon asked the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the District of Columbia to strike down the FCC conditions, which requires that the winner of the new spectrum allow users to connect to this network using any device or software.

This spectrum is a big deal - it's supposed to raise about $10 billion. This is pretty much the last chance for another player to enter into the wireless market.

The current spectrum being used by wireless network carriers restricts users to use only certain types of phones. Verizon claims that the FCC rules overstep its authority - an argument that is very heated at the moment. Verizon would obviously want to maintain the current norm - they're deals are working for them. A new network with any hardware/software solutions available would be quite a competitor for Verizon.

Google, Apple, Verizon, and many other big players are interested in this spectrum. If one of the network-neutrality supporting companies win this valuable spectrum, cell carriers will have to rethink the way they deal with hardware and software solutions.

Nokia and others to make Common Flash Storage Technology

According to this Wall Street Journal article, Nokia Corp. and some other "industry heavyweights" are looking to create a common flash storage technology, removing the need for adaptors and such for different products.

Nokia said Micron Technology Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Sony Ericsson, Spansion Inc., STMicroelectronics NV, and Texas Instruments Inc. all support this common drive, which is now known as Universal Flash Storage, or UFS. This is expected to be finalized and made standard by 2009.

This is a bright idea - hopefully all phones, cameras, and such will have this universal drive. This will be a major convenience, and a relief of great frustration to consumers with different brands of technology. Bravo to standardization.

Coupons Go Mobile

Remember when you're mother would cut coupons out of the newspaper?

Now, hand her a Jitterbug cell phone(just kidding) and let her sign up for some free advertisements - ranging from CDs and DVDs to fast food. According to this Wall Street Journal article, several small mobile-marketing firms are looking to the mobile internet to broadcast coupons. "Hungry cellphone talkers can, for instance, use coupons for buy-one-get-one free chili dogs at hog-dog chain Wienerschnitzel's stores."

Over a million users have signed up for this service, offered by the mobile marketing firm Cellfire.

The cell screenshot says it all - the cellphone itself acts as a digital coupon that can be scanned at the register. A more wireless/cellphone-friendly way (for instance, an email between the phone to the register) to save is not yet available. The firm has linked up about 200 marketers, including Virgin Megastores, Hollywood Video, Domino's Pizza and Quiznos Subs. You've got a lot of food and entertainment in those categories.

Personally, I think this is a great idea - people would use this far more than they would use the hard copy coupons, mostly because you have your cell phone on you at all times.

The emerging mobile marketing business has been looking for a pleasant, not-so-offensive way of advertising on cell phones. This seems to be one of the better ways to do that - giving the user a choice and a service, while promising some savings.

It sort of makes you wonder how Google's cell phone service is going to work, which is rumored to be completely free.

Plane Lands Via Remote Control Cellphone

According to this article, a research team at Mechanical Engineering Polytechnic College in India has flown a model of a plane with an interesting method of control. The plane took off, flew, and landed using a cellular telephone as a remote.

I guess pilots are looking for a way to phone into the office from home.

Apple To Obtain Wireless Spectrum?

According to this eFlux Media article, Apple may enter into competition for the wireless spectrum to be auctioned off on January 16, 2008 (the 700 MHz band).

According to the article, Apple is also interested in competing for the White Space that the FCC has been hesitant to release for broadcast, despite the urging of a Coalition of Technology's Biggest Players (including Microsoft, Google, Dell and Intel). This space is becoming even more valuable as analog TV is going digital by February 2009.

Using analog signals to provide internet access provides many advantages. Increased speeds (from 50 to 100 Mbps), decreased prices, and more accessibility are all claimed to be obtainable using this coveted white space.

With Apple's having sold 1 million iPhones in a little over two months, their deeps pockets could make them serious contenders. One conflict of interest presents itself as Eric Schmidt, the outspoken Google CEO who also sits on the board of Apple. Google is also looking to purchase the 700 MHz spectrum in January.

The White Space, or the spectrum ranging from 43 MHz and 698 MHz, is still facing issues with the FCC, as television broadcasters fear interference with their programming.

iPhone - 1 Million Served

According to this New York Times post and this Apple Press Release, the number of iPhones sold has topped 1 million units.

This is remarkable, as the holiday season is still approaching. The iPod sold 1 million units after two years, making the 74 day/1 million mark for the iPhone pretty incredible. Also, with ostensibly very little marketing (mostly relying on hype from excited users), the iPhone is selling purely because of its innovation. The advertisements are simple - just examples of the functionality - and were not too heavily laden upon the public (at least in my experience). Granted the music used is really cool (and the "Hello?" advertisement tapping classic movies that premiered during the Oscars was super-hip), the iPhone's success isn't as reliant on marketing as one might think.

The pricing "fiasco" that occurred in the past week isn't as big a deal as most make it out to be - at least it won't be remembered in a few months. In fact, the market that it opens with the iPod Touch and the new Nano will probably make up for the angry customers (who were already so into Apple that they jumped the gun, bit the bullet, and spent $600).

WhereverTV looks to create 1,200 channels of Mobile Television

According to this Engadget Mobile article, WhereverTV has promised 1,200 channels of Mobile Television to be delivered to 3G handsets by the end of the year. On top of that, the network will be fueled by advertisements, so, for starters, users will not be charged for subscriptions.

Twelve-hundred channels is enormous. With all of the legal troubles involved with rebroadcasting, it's hard to imagine how long it took to set enough deals in place to gather this much content. Hopefully the beta testing works out, and we can see some of the lasting power of mobile television. Also, it will be interesting to discover their implementation of advertisments, especially since screen real estate is so valueable to the mobile user.

O2 Bolsters EDGE Network in the UK - Indicates iPhone Launch

This Engadget Mobile article mentions some EDGE upgrades to be made on O2's UK network, which sort of seems like a backwards step, considering most of Europe is already enjoying 3G mobile broadband networks. O2's updating current towers with EDGE technology may be a precursor to an iPhone release on O2's network. That would be a major disappointment - Apple being unable to optimize their battery technology in order to include 3G chips in their product (especially in such a 3G laden environment).

The two may not have anything to do with one another, but the European release of the iPhone is fun to speculate about.

Microsoft and Siemens Team Up

According to this New York Times article Microsoft and Siemens are developing in-car entertainment and navigation products that make it easier for users to integrate mobiles and mp3 players with their car's interface.

According to research group iSuppli, the automotive infotainment market is "set to grow to about $54 billion by 2012 from $38 billion currently."

The Siemens product in the works, Siemens VDO, works on the Microsoft Auto platform. The VDO makes driver-assistance and saftey systems, as well as navigation functions.

Car companies feel the need to keep up with newly emerging mobile technology. Although the advances are astounding (like the Lexus that can park itself), all of these new distractions may not live up to their expectations (I mean, look at Windows Vista). Hopefully Microsoft's Auto platform is more reliable and less likely to crash.

iPhone Drama and Applications Galore

At Mod My iPhone.com, you can do exactly that - modify your iPhone with their vast array of aggregated iPhone programs. This is good timing, as the iPhone has been given a $200 price drop (and early iPhone buyers will be given $100 back to compensate for this drop).

The iPhone price drop caused quite an uproar among early adopters, which resulted in Jobs Writing a letter to the iPhone users apologizing. He stated that at Apple, they are really "going for it" this holiday season (as I'm sure hundreds of thousands will be surprised to find the hottest new gadget in their stocking).

New iPod to be Phoneless iPhone

According to this New York Times Bit's blog post, the new Apple product that has been hyped recently is a touch-screen Wi-Fi iPod - essentially the same design as the iPhone except without the phone service. It has the same 3.5' screen, the same touch interface and the same Wi-Fi chipset with the Safari Web Browser. However, it's substantially cheaper. Starting at $299 for 8 gigs and $399 for 16, maybe some future iPhone converts will realize just how cool an integrated phone would be with this device. Sounds kind of backwards, doesn't it?

What's quite awesome is that there is a wireless version of iTunes available on this iPod, which means you can bypass the computer and purchase songs straight to the iPod (and transfer it to your computer later).

The bigger picture points to products that won't be limited by hard disk or flash memory space. The 16 gigabyte iPod Touch is far more limited than the newly renamed 160 gig iPod Classic. You would want to load your iPod Touch with loads of videos, as the 3.5" screen is the best portable display available, but the 16 gigs aren't quite sufficient for, say, all 10 seasons of "Friends" and your entire music collection.

Enter streaming content.

With the Wi-Fi connection on the new iPod and iPhone, and with mobile broadband pointing to easy, inexpensive and constant high speed connectivity, a lack of flash memory might not be so bad if you can find a way to stream the content wirelessly.

It could even work the same way as a SlingBox, with content broadcast over the internet and your wireless device picks it up through an open port in your network. Imagine purchasing a video off iTunes or Nokia's Ovi, and then broadcasting it to any wireless device you own. Your only wireless memory limitations are posed by your home pc or network storage space. Of course it must be more complicated than this, but hopefully this is where it's headed.

Vodafone Gets Personal With Mobile Web Campaign

One of the newer members of the WiMax forum, Vodafone, has recently released a few ads for its newest campaign, which focuses on mobile broadband. While they are pushing 3G technology (which is far more prevalent in Europe than in the Americas), all points of their campaign can be applied to the future of WiMax - as it will hopefully take off with Mobile Broadband in the public eye.

The add, "Time theft", features a man who literally cannot escape the office. Trying to meet French actress Caroline Ducey for coffee, he continues to find himself back in the office, frustrated. As he finally snaps, Judi Dench's voice begs,

Don't let work steal all the good bits of your day. Make work work around you instead. With mobile broadband and email, get all those good bits back.

Vodafone's doing their part to educate the public about the emerging technologies available - mobile broadband is catching up to fixed broadband. This ad is a refreshing reminder that this technology is being developed for an important reason - to give the user more control over their work environment, which saves time for what's most important.

Back To School Mobility

According to this CNET article, students going back to college are gravitating toward mobility - laptops, smartphones and digital cameras.

Nine of Amazon.com's 10 best-selling PCs are laptops, dominated by Toshiba's satellite and Apple's MacBook. As notebook technology ages, prices have dropped, allowing for more to be purchased.

The most surprising development has occurred with smartphones. The market is becoming younger and younger as more text messaging teens and twenty-somethings are taking advantage of the full QWERTY keyboards and the mobile web. Just a few years ago only suit laden businessmen and women could be seen on the streets glued to their PDA. Now, more students are finding a need to take advantage of various PDA's numerous features.

With these continuing patterns, the future of the Mobile Web seems to be in great shape.

Hardware and Service Converging?

This is a pretty good read - an interesting New York Times Article on the convergence of "Gadget Makers and Service Providers." Google used to be a search engine, but is now knocking at the door of mobile telephony with their new Google Phone, which may attract the same hype as the iPhone. Both Google and Apple are chic companies known for their innovation - Google more on the software side, so it would make sense for a hoard of tech-heads following the development of Google's first crack at hardware.

With Nokia's new Ovi network, the tried and true hardware developers are cracking in on the space that Apples' iTunes has carved out.

These cross-market products put out by these growing companies are great for innovation. Maybe Google will put out a product that uses VoIP to a higher degree, harnessing its power, or even its own search technology. These benefits will certainly move technology and services forward. With big, well known names adding new services to different markets, those already in these markets will have to step up their services as well.

Mobile TV - The Next Killer App?

After setting up my SlingBox, and reading more about it on their website, I realized that the mobile application for use with Windows Mobile could be the next Killer Application for 4G wireless networks. Using SlingPlayer with high speed mobile broadband network, such as Sprint's new Mobile WiMax Network, could deliver good enough video quality to meet most people's standards. With the current EDGE network or other 'less than 3G' networks, the idea of streaming video is unfathomable. However, with Mobile WiMax, bandwith issues will be a thing of the past. Hopefully this WiMax network's unlimited data plan will truly be Unlimited, or else that will vastly limit the picture quality of the streaming video. While broadcasting over the internet, my SlingBox typically transfers 1500 kbps. Furthermore, the current state of mobile video includes short video clips and sports highlights. SlingBox may monopolize a cable box in your home, but it delivers full length television - just like at home.

Apple's deal with YouTube has certainly sparked more interested in streaming mobile video, especially with the iPhone's penetration of non-tech-centered consumers. Maybe SlingMedia can grab a hold of that.