September 05, 2007
In-Stat Study: Wireless Operators 'Jittery' about Mobile Video
By Prabhala Ranga Sai, TMCnet Contributor
A recent report from market research firm In-Stat (News - Alert) shows the mobile industry taking a huge gamble when it comes to delivering mobile video services to consumers.
Just like the late 1990s, when 3G
networks were being deployed, billions are being spent to deploy new 4G networks capable of delivering video to mobile devices. After sinking so much money into these new networks, mobile operators are now jittery about recouping on their investments, as consumers might shun their offers.
As with most new technologies, there is worldwide debate about the capabilities and benefits of mobile video and mobile TV services. As of right now, experts can’t predict if a particular service will outpace others in the market and gain consumers’ preference.
The study gauges consumer opinions about four key technologies used for the delivery of mobile video services: out-of-band video, such as DVB-H and MediaFLO; free-to-air services, such as Japan's 1-Seg; video clips delivered over 3G networks (Verizon Wireless uses this method); and mobile video associated with a local cable operator, such as with Sprint's (News - Alert) Pivot service. The study, "Wireless Operators May Lose Control of Mobile Video," not only covers these four most prevalent mobile video delivery scenarios, it also analyzes how these delivery methods will be affected by the activities of competing groups that are trying to promote their own standards.
The study also offers extensive discussion about "time-shifting" and "place-shifting" technologies that send video from home video files and set-top boxes to remote devices, including cellphones, and strategies for mobile operators to take advantage of those services.
Consumers may no longer be interested in the video offerings of cellular operators once other types of services are available, says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst.
For more information, visit www.in-stat.com.
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P R Sai is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Just like the late 1990s, when 3G
networks were being deployed, billions are being spent to deploy new 4G networks capable of delivering video to mobile devices. After sinking so much money into these new networks, mobile operators are now jittery about recouping on their investments, as consumers might shun their offers.As with most new technologies, there is worldwide debate about the capabilities and benefits of mobile video and mobile TV services. As of right now, experts can’t predict if a particular service will outpace others in the market and gain consumers’ preference.
The study gauges consumer opinions about four key technologies used for the delivery of mobile video services: out-of-band video, such as DVB-H and MediaFLO; free-to-air services, such as Japan's 1-Seg; video clips delivered over 3G networks (Verizon Wireless uses this method); and mobile video associated with a local cable operator, such as with Sprint's (News - Alert) Pivot service. The study, "Wireless Operators May Lose Control of Mobile Video," not only covers these four most prevalent mobile video delivery scenarios, it also analyzes how these delivery methods will be affected by the activities of competing groups that are trying to promote their own standards.
The study also offers extensive discussion about "time-shifting" and "place-shifting" technologies that send video from home video files and set-top boxes to remote devices, including cellphones, and strategies for mobile operators to take advantage of those services.
Consumers may no longer be interested in the video offerings of cellular operators once other types of services are available, says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst.
For more information, visit www.in-stat.com.
----------
P R Sai is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
