DAB module passes the handset TV test

The Technology Partnership (TTP) has agreed with BT Movio to license its DAB-IP open standards based mobile television module to manufacturers worldwide.

The Technology Partnership (TTP) has agreed with BT Movio to license its DAB-IP open standards based mobile television module to manufacturers worldwide.

This follows the successful pilot mobile TV service trials by BT Movio last November, in which handsets based on TTP's DAB-IP module were used by 1000 trial users within the M25 London region of the UK to receive mobile television broadcasts and digital radio over the DAB spectrum.

BT Movio intends to be the first wholesale mobile broadcast entertainment service to launch in the UK later this year and will enable operators to offer consumers a compelling digital TV and radio service.

The service is broadcast using the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network and is navigated through the world's first implementation of a broadcast delivered electronic programme guide (EPG) on a mobile TV phone.

Full end-to-end digital rights management, with license keys for the encrypted broadcast content being served over a GPRS back channel, provides support for pay business propositions.

Interactive content and services can also be provided to the consumer over GPRS/3G.

Unlike 3G mobile TV services, the use of a broadcast platform allows multiple users to access services at the same time without a reduction in quality.

The software from TTP includes both DAB IP based digital TV and DAB radio reception and supports the main open broadcast standards for delivering TV to mobile devices - using IP multicast.

It is completely independent of receiver hardware - making it suitable for all major markets around the world where spectrum is available - and is ideal for feature phones, smartphones, PDAs and media players.

The key aspects of the technology that emerged from the trials are that the module supports Microsoft's digital rights management, audio and video codecs for mobile TV reception, ETSI standard XML based 7 day electronic programme guide (EPG) and full interactivity in a way that enables operators to stimulate additional revenue.

Martin Orrell, General Manager of Digital Broadcast Mobile TV at TTP commented: "We are very pleased that we have agreed with BT Movio to license the DAB IP software and hardware to handset manufacturers".

"We believe this will be an important catalyst for mobile TV growth - the market has access to a successfully tested technology from a four-month trial; in addition, the module is low cost and can be quickly scaled to millions of users, whatever broadcast standard is being used".

"The combination of the software and hardware capabilities, versatility and cost combined with the experience of BT Movio's trials means that 2006 could be heralded as the year that new services take off and revenue opportunities could be realised by operators in the mobile TV market".

Emma Lloyd, Managing Director of BT Movio said: "The ability to license ready made DAB-IP device solutions is significant for manufacturers as it allows them to get mobile TV-enabled handsets into production very quickly; this is essential for mobile network operators rapidly growing the user base for mobile TV services on their networks - handset availability is key to this".

Two of the most significant and unique features of DAB-IP are the availability of a full, real-time rolling 7-day electronic programme guide (EPG) which stores data permanently on the handheld device and automatically updates over the air; and full end-to-end digital rights management using Microsoft Windows Media DRM10, so that it can meet the needs of both free-to-air as well as pay business propositions.

The local EPG storage feature overcomes the slow update speed currently faced by some mobile TV services, while the DRM capability adds a highly flexible software user interface that can support operator, service provider and content provider branding and revenue models.

The interactive capability of DAB-IP allows mobile TV subscribers to take advantage of personalised interactive content over GPRS/3G; they can continue to listen to the audio of their favourite programme while browsing the additional content.

This feature can be used by operators and content providers to stimulate interactivity and improve revenue over and above the regular subscription or pay per view revenues.

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