Analyst perspectives on key wireless industry topics including mobile devices, network infrastructure, mobile operators, mobile content, and short range wireless connectivity.

In Germany, the three months Mobile TV trial carried by T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and E-Plus was completed last week. During the trial which was carried on in Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and Munich, approximately 1,000 users were given access to TV channels via a DVB-H (digital video broadcasting handheld) platform. The operators claim that the trial was a success and that they are now petitioning federal and local authorities to grant more frequencies to enable the service to be launched in other parts of the country.
 
Meanwhile, mobile service provider Debitel has already been providing Mobile TV services based on the DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) standard in Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt since June 2006. The service marketed under the "watcha" brand is priced at €9.95 ($12.75) per month and is available on the Samsung SGH-P900, which Debitel is selling at €199 ($255.28).
 
DVB-H can offer more channels and greater efficiency for Mobile TV services than DMB, but the frequency spectrums for the technology aren't currently available on a nationwide basis in many European countries including Germany. Further, it could still take a few years for these spectrums to open up. By contrast, DMB uses different spectrum that is available and so services can be launched nationwide.
 
ABI Research’s Opinion - We believe that using the DMB standard, Debitel will certainly reap the benefits of being the first mover and service provider in Germany. However, the alliance of T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2, and E-Plus for the DVB-H standard is a big move and we expect that there will be a quicker growth in the subscription of mobile TV services based on DVB-H in comparison to DMB. The difficult question to answer at the moment is whether and when these four operators will be able to deliver on their promise of nationwide launch of services.

FCC Approves Sprint/Clearwire Deal
Author: Philip Solis
Principal Analyst, Mobile Broadband
Posted: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 18:18:46 EST

Motorola Drops LiMo and Europe
Author: Stuart Carlaw
Vice President and Research Director, Mobile Wireless
Posted: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:51:59 EDT

Nokia's Touch Screen - At Last
Author: Kevin Burden
Research Director, Mobile Devices
Posted: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 14:08:33 EDT

GSMA Launches "Mobile Broadband" Branding Initiative To Start Defending Against WiMAX
Author: Philip Solis
Principal Analyst, Mobile Broadband
Posted: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:08:17 EDT

Sprint Finally Launches Xohm . . . In Baltimore at Least
Author: Philip Solis
Principal Analyst, Mobile Broadband
Posted: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:22:23 EDT