Fujitsu’s upgrading their already awesome F703i waterproof phone to add a 2.7-inch screen, HSDPA, 2-megapixel camera and underwater TV action. Honestly, now that Fujitsu’s pushed the bar for mobile phones into the underwater TV realm, we’re not satisfied with any phone that doesn’t have this. 3G iPhone? Does it have underwater TV? Then good day to you, sir.
Another intriguing job opportunity at Cupertino today is for a senior RF System Engineer. Unlike the GPS one, it’s not iPhone specific. Here are the chops you need: “Knowledge about Bluetooth, 3G, UWB, WiMAX, GPS, Mobile TV and similar wireless technologies and/or experience with wireless module integration into PC system or consumer products is a strong plus.” Man, I bet all that would be swell in an iPhone or notebook or mini-tablet. [Apple via MacNN]
Usually, about the only thing rivals LG and Samsung see eye-to-eye on is that Korean food is awesome. But they’re coming together to propose a new co-developed mobile DTV standard to the Advanced Television Systems Committee, in the hopes that it’ll be quickly adopted and get the mobile TV ball a-rollin’. (Guess the Nokia deal didn’t do the trick?)The standard uses existing digital TV spectrum, but doesn’t impact existing DTV signals. Right now, Qualcomm’s MediaFLO is the dominant U.S. standard, used by Verizon and AT&T. But, since mobile TV adoption in Korea far outstrips anyone’s wildest dreams here, maybe they should take the lead on this one. [Korea Press Release Network via Crunchgear]
A report in a Swiss publication claims that the long-awaited, much-speculated 3G iPhone will rock GPS, mobile TV and videoconferencing. Le Matin claims that mobile phone provider Swisscom will get the privilege of flogging Apple’s mobile phone in the land of the cuckoo clock, and that it will be available some time this summer (AU Winter). [Le Matin via MacRumors]
The Gadget: Samsung Access, the second (and cheaper) phone launching AT&T’s mobile TV service.
While mobile TV mobile phones are ten-a-penny in the Far East, the West is pretty much virgin territory for them. Samsung’s P960, however, may have got the ball rolling, a mobile TV phone aimed at European consumers. A sleek grey slider, the P960 supports both European mobile TV standards, DVB-CBMS and OMA-BCAST, and its 2.6-inch QVGA TFT screen even lets you watch two channels at the same time. As to whether we’re going to see a US-friendly version later on in the year—well, that’s not clear yet, but since the menu behind the dude is in dollars, perhaps the Koreans are making their press budget go a little further. Press release is after the jump. galleryPost('samsungp960', 4, 'Samsung P960');
The 605 WiFi PMP was cool and all, but it has been given new life thanks to an add-on that delivers driving directions and free or paid traffic notification in addition to its normal media functions. The system is even sophisticated enough to simulate position changes in the event that a signal is lost. There is also a new Web TV and Radio plugin that will give users access more than 9,600 Web radio stations, 600 Web TV stations and 110,000 podcasts streamed live over the Internet. It will also feature full support for Adobe Flash 9 and WMV9.Update: Some new info about streaming TV and a movie deal with Paramount.
Talking at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, Hulu CEO Jason Kilar implied that NBC and News Corp.’s (mostly) slick video service could be moving to mobile phones, saying that they’re “ripe for the Hulu experience.” But, it might not look like the Hulu we know and almost love, since he mentioned that it “may not be identical” everywhere, but he thinks “anything connected to the internet would be a good fit for Hulu.” Looks like healthy mobile TV might just materialise in the US. [MocoNews, Broadcasting & Cable]
Boy Genius has some more details about AT&T’s imminent mobile TV service, adding to what AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega told us earlier. It’s going to launch May 4, and there will be three packages: Limited (US$13/month), Basic (US$15) and Plus (US$30). It’s the exact same as what Verizon VCast offers, price and channel-wise, except that AT&T has CNN and Plus tosses in an “exclusive” Sony pictures channel. Full listings below.
The good news: A coalition of 800 local TV stations are lobbying to get a mobile TV standard approved by the ATSC. Rather than pay Verizon or AT&T a boatload of money to get MediaFLO content, you will just buy a product with a receiver chip and tune in whatever’s on. The bad news: Broadcasters want this because TiVo, cable and that damned internet have done away with their ad revenue, and mobile TV seems like the last good place to stick inline ads that you will have to watch.
