O2 switches on mobile TV

Live mobile phone television starts in Oxford next week.

O2 has been dishing out Nokia 7710s – the widescreener in the pic – to lucky trialists in the area. Unlike Orange’s existing mobile TV service, this new offering features different channels, technology and – crucially – is broadcast live.

The channel line-up is far superior. Where Orange has CNN, Cartoon Network and Fashion TV, O2 is bringing the majority of the big terrestrial stations, including BBC One and Two, ITV, Channel 4, Five  and BBC News 24.

All the channels are broadcast live to the phones via the mobile version of the digital TV format, DVB-H, and backed up by an Electronic Programme Guide.

The trial ends in six months, so – all being well – we could get a real, nationwide service next spring.

Orange hails mobile TV as a success

In other, trumpet-blowing news, Orange says it notched up 1.5 million ‘viewing sessions’ of mobile TV across Europe this August. Apparently the average punter watches 35 minutes a month.

Interestingly, Orange is also starting a DVB-H-based trial in France next month.

Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home