Qualcomm never says die, puts cash into British MediaFLO network
by Chris Ziegler 
posted May 16th 2008 at 2:01PM
Qualcomm's opting for the "la la la la, I can't hear you!" approach to the EU's decision to roll deep with DVB-H, it seems, committing $16.3 million in the UK to scoop up about 40MHz worth of nationwide spectrum for testing its own MediaFLO there, seemingly in an effort to woo locals to FLO's benefits. To be clear, Qualcomm says that it won't go solo with a commercial launch -- it wants a business partner to do that, much as it uses Verizon and AT&T in the States -- but it seems like the company has no problem dumping a few quid into getting the rejected standard some time in the spotlight. The odds are certainly against it, but hey, you've gotta admire their commitment.
Filed under: Multimedia
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nil @ May 17th 2008 1:36PM
"Rejected Standard" .. that's funny!!! DVB-H has got EU backing that's where it starts and ends.. Mobile TV war is still open and remember GSM vs. CDMA.. Qualcomm still made money out of CDMA.. Never speak too early!!!
May be you need to get your head clean from your prototype Thoughts.
youngcalihottie @ May 17th 2008 4:43PM
then again its not like the EU hasn't changed its mind about mobile tv before...
Marky @ May 18th 2008 3:26AM
The commission can't impose a standard, it can only recommend.
The decision must be approved first by the European Parliament and then by the Council of Ministers (which is where the real power lies) as that is the meeting of the equivalent ministers from all member states. Their meetings are behind closed doors and once they have agreed a majority then they recommend to the national parliaments.
The decision to use DVB-H was made, I understand, on purely practical considerations as DVB-T, DVB-S and DVB-C is adopted standard in the EU for digital broadcasts and would require few changes to broadcasting legislation in member states.