Ah ha! So this is what DISH Network was planning on doing with its recently-purchased swath of spectrum. Just under two months after analysts pondered what the firm was thinking throwing out bids for a smidgen of bandwidth -- and not even a fortnight after the ICO G1 successfully launched in order to bring DVB-SH to America -- out comes the whole truth. The satcaster is teaming up with Alcatel-Lucent to test the Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handhelds technology right here in the US, with A-L providing the equipment, test tools and training. The evaluation will be taking place at a DISH facility in Atlanta from May until August, with the ultimate goal to "validate the performance and cost-efficiency of the DVB-SH standard." As expected, we're only given crumbs of information as to where this partnership may lead, but we should be much more clear on everything by the time the summer concludes.

Though it once appeared as if DVB-SH was headed for high times in Europe, DVB-H eventually won out as the nationwide standard, but that certainly doesn't mean other standards can't compete within the region. Reportedly, Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to launch the first trial of the technology in Italy with RAI and 3 Italia, and while DVB-SH would likely be more costly to implement due to its position in the spectrum, European telecoms are grasping for options to satisfy the growing desire for mobile TV. If all goes as planned, the trials will take place in Turin over the next few months, but it wasn't clear when Jane / John Doe would be called in to participate. Also of note, a cellphone provider has yet to be selected, but it sounds like Samsung and Sagem both made it onto the short list.

[Via mocoNews]

The European Union has a habit of liking to get all of its children on the same page when it comes to mobile technology -- think GSM, for example -- so it comes as no big surprise that a new EU proposal looks to put mobile satellite services under its own control and not that of member countries. For service providers, this likely comes as a relief since it means they won't need to visit licensing commissions of 27 individual nations, though that also means it'll be a far more expensive proposition to get licensed. The EU, which hopes to push the proposal through its parliament and members' telecom bosses next year, would then choose one or more providers by 2009 -- just in time for the scheduled launch of a satellite bearing DVB-SH broadcasting capability, coincidentally. Backed by Alcatel Lucent, DVB-SH uses satellites as its primary means of reception with terrestrial repeaters augmenting the signal, making it a great way to blanket all of Europe in glorious mobile TV without the need to roll out DVB-H transmitters everywhere. With a strong backing of DVB-H in its rear-view mirror, it seems like a virtual lock that the SH variant is exactly what the EU has in mind here.

[Via mocoNews]

We aren't insinuating that you should attach any level of truth to these rumors just yet, but the boards of Esato are alive with murmurs of a few new SE handsets that could be launched as early as tomorrow. Amongst the mobiles that we could hear more about (officially) in the coming day is the Cyber-shot-branded "Victoria" -- which will supposedly be 14-millimeters thick and sport a 1.9-inch QVGA screen, five color options, and a 128MB M2 card bundled in -- and the still elusive "Veronica." Additionally, we could also be treated to the W350, a Cyber-shot clamshell / Cyber-shot slider, and new "accessories" to boot. Best of all, though, is that you've just a single day left to find out if there's actually any substance to these whispers, but if it does prove true, it certainly won't be the first time.

[Via PocketPicks]

The wait for DVB-H-based mobile TV this side of the pond may have just gotten a little longer. A management shakeup at Modeo -- patron saint (along with Hiwire) of American DVB-H -- has hit the company as their search for a carrier partner continues, and its commercial-grade service trial in New York City using HTC's Foreseer appears to be a casualty. Originally scheduled for a Q4 2006 launch, the trial will now begin (knock on wood) in early '07. Between Hiwire and various MediaFLO-based efforts coming down the pike, Modeo's drama may not ultimately mean much to mobile TV's outlook in these parts, but it'd be tragic nonetheless to see one of these guys bite the dust before they even get out of the gate, would it not?

[Via Phone Scoop]

T-Mobile may be playing catch-up in the 3G game, but it looks like they want to come rearing out of the gate on mobile TV. Hiwire, rife with nationwide spectrum in the 700MHz band, is gearing up to launch its DVB-H trial this December in the Las Vegas area; T-Mobile decided early on that it wanted in on the action, reportedly hooking up with Hiwire within 60 days of its formation. Ultimately, the carrier has not signed any agreements to join forces with Hiwire for a full-scale launch, but we can presume that a successful test in Vegas could lead to a long-term partnership. The trial looks to roll deep with as many as four handset models, thanks mainly to the availability of existing DVB-H phones that operate elsewhere on the same band.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Though Gigabyte's not much of a mobile presence here in the US, folks in Asian countries might want to listen up: the spec sheet on their g-Smart i200 Pocket PC phone makes it sound like the best thing since... well, the i120 and i300. The 512MB of internal storage is hot, the promise of Crossbow (if it's available by the device's launch in Q1 '07) is pure gold -- but what's really got us all fired up are the integrated dual tuners (DVB-H and DVB-T) and 2.69-inch VGA display. Yep, we said it: VGA. Everyone waiting for the promise of compromise-free mobile web browsing and remote desktop connections can come out of hiding, because this bad boy could very well be the phone you've been waiting for. The TV-out and DVR functionality don't hurt, either. Now if you'll excuse us, we need to book our flights to Taiwan.

[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]

Mobile TV may not be off to the blazing start some had hoped, but it seems like only good things can happen when the world's #1 and #2 handset manufacturers get together to push it. Nokia and Motorola have announced an agreement to collaborate on DVB-H interoperability, lessening the burden on carriers trying to take mobile TV networks live and (hopefully) hastening wide-scale adaptation. The agreement may be seen as a blow for Qualcomm, which peddles the rival MediaFLO tech, but even they've managed to hedge their bets in the event the tide turns solidly against them. Either way, this all means nothing until devices are in consumers' hands and the market is sustainable; Modeo, we await your move.

It appears that despite a strong push by carriers and content providers, consumers' cold, uneasy reception of mobile video continues. This time around, LA Times and Bloomberg have the numbers, showing that a mere 9% of folks in the influential 18-24 age bracket have any desire to watch television on their handset, compared to 40% who wouldn't mind doing so on their computer. The numbers get even worse for movies -- and understandably so -- with just 6% wanting to squint their way through a film. The numbers get a little better among 12-17 year olds with 14% willing to give mobile television a shot, but still, it looks like major investments in mobile TV infrastructure could prove to be money pits if stakeholders don't figure out how to hook 'em while they're young.

[Via PVR Wire]

Nokia's DVB-H capable N92 may not support GSM 850 or a UMTS band that's useful to us here in the States -- never mind the fact that we don't have any DVB broadcasts to tune in to -- but that doesn't mean we can't lust after the dual-pivot clamshell with its gorgeous 2.8-inch display. Happily, it looks like we can now satisfy our desires without ruffling the feathers of the, uh, FCC police. Of course, that still means we'd have to find some stock; despite getting announced alongside the N80 last year, the N92 hasn't yet become available in significant quantity, though Nokia's promising that we should start to see 'em here in the second half of the year.

[Via Mobilewhack]

Like those Jupiter Research survey results we've seen before, Amberlight consultancy firm tells us that consumers do indeed want mobile television. However, they are put-off by poorly designed devices and lackluster services associated with those 3G streaming TeeVee solutions. They found current offerings to suffer from patchy 3G reception, slow startup times ranging from 2 and 5 minutes, and overly complicated usage experiences lacking on-screen displays and EPGs. Certainly, much of this is already being addressed by next-generation handsets with integrated digital TV tuners for accessing new broadcast, mobile TV solutions over DVB-H, T-DMB, and MediaFLO  -- so we're not overly concerned. After-all, Amberlight says their research, uh, "proves" that there is consumer demand for mobile TV if only operators can offer services which are "easy to use" and "competitively priced." Well, we're glad that argument is settled.

While it sure seems that MediaFLO, DVB-H, and T-DMB broadcast technologies are set to bring the pain to mobile digital television pioneers MobiTV this year, don't count the old dog out just yet. Today MobiTV announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring their flavor of mobile DTV to Windows Mobile powered phones and devices, as well as XP-based PCs and laptops. The love-in means MobiTV will make use of Microsoft's Windows Media platform, including their DRM, audio and video codecs, and Windows Media Player for content delivery and consumption. The technology will be on display at CTIA where we'll be sure to check it out in our live coverage.

[Via Geekzone]

As if the world needed yet another broadcast digital video standard, Japan's taking their stab at it today by officially finally rolling out One Seg, which sidechannels analog terrestrial broadcasting with digital signals. Apparently it's be free to air and now live in and around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, which is nice, but we're never too stoked for yet another radio standard the world's got to deal with supporting. Though we understand there are already a half a million One Seg mobile devices floating around Japan as we speak beginning with a December rollout of the standard, including Vodafone's new Sharp 95SH.