PC card is first for mobile digital TV

The world's first mobile digital TV PC card supports both DVB-H and HSDPA, providing Italian users with on-the-go access to multimedia and datacomms applications.

Onda Communications has unveiled the world's first mobile digital TV (MDTV) PC card that supports both DVB-H and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) modems for the PC and notebook markets.

The DVB-H/HSDPA PC card is initially marketed by TIM, for its DVB-H and data communication networks.

The pioneering card was codeveloped with Siano Mobile Silicon and CyberLink.

Telecom Italia executives unveiled the state-of-the-art DVB-H/HSDPA PC card, labelled DT501HS, at their quarterly conference in Berlin, on 20th October 2007.

The introduction of the new TV/modem card will provide end users with on-the-go access to a wide range of high-quality multimedia and datacommunications applications, like movies, music and sports.

The DT501HS sales will start in TIM's stores in Italy next month.

The innovative product, interfacing the notebook via USB 2.0 High Speed includes a SIM card of the operator (TIM) and a secured conditional access mechanism by NagraVision.

"We regard this product as being a clear natural extension to our existing DVB-H and HSDPA mobile products", says Onda President Michelanglo Agrusti.

"Italy was the first European country to commercially deploy DVB-H, and the coverage here is nationwide".

"This new product now allows consumers to use their PCs and notebooks as the centre of their multimedia and data communication applications, and enjoy both TV and interactive services at the same time".

"On a notebook, the end user can not only receive the content, but also store it, edit, forward, etc, which basically means getting a broader value from the DVB-H subscription fee".

Unlike other DVB-H products in the market, the slim DT501HS does not have an external antenna that sticks out.

Instead, it uses Siano's innovative tiny antenna chip, the SMS8021 (codeveloped with Vishay), which is mounted on the internal PCB and exhibits high performance gain over the entire UHF spectrum.

DVB-H reception is done by Siano's single chip receiver, the SMS1010, which allows high speed mobility, smooth handovers, and reception sufficiently sensitive to allow deep indoor usage.

"By offering this product, TIM is smartly expanding the mass-market adoption of DVB-H beyond the rate dictated by users who buy new DVB-H enabled mobile phones", says Alon Ironi, CEO of SiaNo "This gives a new dimension to the potential revenues that operators can make from DVB-H.

The same DVB-H network that serves mobile phones can address users of notebooks or even home desktop PCs - this is a growth multiplier".

"The combination of DVB-H with an advanced 3G modem makes a comprehensive user experience of wireless multimedia services", adds Ironi.

The DT501HS is complemented by an attractive, easy-to-use application on the PC side, provided by CyberLink.

In conjunction with the Siano receiver, CyberLink's software supports such advanced features as live picture-in-picture mode and an audio-visual TV programme guide.

"CyberLink is pleased to collaborate with Siano, Onda and Telecom Italia Mobile to provide our DVB-H TV solution for notebook users", says Alice H Chang, CEO of CyberLink.

"With CyberLink PowerCinema supporting SIM-based conditional access (CA) and featuring a broad range of TV functions, TIM's DVB-H/HSDPA PC card users can experience the rich features and quality of subscription-based premium TV content on-the-go, as well as simultaneous dual-channel viewing and programme guide search".

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