Business Challenge
With EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for Global Evolution) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network it is now technically possible to watch TV on a mobile handset. However, theses services are often based on a WAP application. You have to load a page listing all available channels, then click on the channel to launch the phone’s media player, then connect to the stream and start playing the TV program. For ‘zapping’, you have to stop the media player, go back to the WAP browser and select another channel. For looking at the TV guide, it is also necessary to stop the player, and browse through the WAP portal for the right WAP TV pages.
Solution Capabilities
Atos Worldline offers a solution that provides end-users with completely new ergonomics for Mobile TV. It makes full use of the handset’s capabilities and with even more functionality than home TV such as:
• Graphical program-guide (what’s on now, what’s next, what’s tonight)
• Possibility to zap directly without having to stop the watched stream
• Possibility to check program on other channel before zapping
• Possibility to send an SMS while watching program in a small window
• Possibility to request an SMS reminder when a specific program starts
Access to VOD (Video on Demand) catalog is also possible within the same application that also includes billing capabilities (duration based, or program based) and Parental Control. Recent statistics have shown a substantial increase in terms of usage for users watching TV with this enhanced mobile TV application.
Streamezzo Technology
This solution was developed based on Streamezzo technology. Streamezzo is a French company created in 2004 and specializing in Rich Media for mobiles and providing tools for developing advanced ergonomic with animated menus, tickers, with multimedia functionalities. They support a wide variety of handsets (Symbian, Java, Microsoft…), and all the content of the application is stored on a server, which allows easy and smooth migration of the application without having to redistribute new package. The application is accessible through the standard phone’s menu and can either be pre-loaded or simply installed by the end-user from the WAP portal.
Atos Worldline builds the complete service from the mobile part and to the server side (IT interconnection for billing, VOD catalogue management, user favorites, statistics, etc.), including management and hosting. Operators also have the possibility to re-use their existing video-streaming or broadcasting architecture.
This solution is not dependant on the technology used to ‘broadcast’ TV, and can therefore be used as it is for DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld) mobile TV service, a broadcast technology aimed at mobile handsets in which unlimited of users can watch the same program at the same time.