Modeo, a leading company in the mobile television industry, will host live demonstrations of a new, production-ready DVB-H integrated smartphone at CTIA WIRELESS 2006 in Las Vegas from April 5 to 7. This innovative handset is designed around the high performance DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld) standard, the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 platform and Microsoft Windows Media platform to supply mobile users with a feature-packed mobile entertainment and productivity solution.
Development of the new DVB-H handset marks the latest stage in the evolution of Modeo's mobile television service, building on proven capabilities of the company's world class mobile broadcast operations center in Pittsburgh and its nationwide satellite distribution capabilities. The handset incorporates features and functionalities identified and honed through Modeo's ongoing consumer pilot testing.
"The new Modeo phone provides a best-in-class multimedia experience that should impress even the most discerning TV viewer, while also delivering on a wide range of more traditional smartphone features and functionality," said Michael Schueppert, President of Modeo. "We're pleased to introduce a device with these innovative capabilities, combined with highly appealing contemporary design and aesthetics."
Manufactured to Modeo's mobile TV specifications by HTC, this consumer-ready mobile phone provides industry-leading entertainment services and productivity features all in one sleek and alluring form factor. From one-touch connection to live digital TV and music services, to accessing home or office emails, calendar and contact information, the new Modeo handset is designed to deliver a new standard of personal entertainment and productivity that is without concession.
"The Modeo integrated DVB-H smartphone takes mobile TV to a new level," said Mark Baker, HTC Director of Americas Business Development. "While some multi-function devices are forced to make compromises to deliver a broader range of features, the use of industry-leading specialty assemblies and applications enables the Modeo handset to deliver impressive performance on every front."
Based on the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform, the handset is optimized to receive and playback Modeo's DVB-H mobile broadcasts delivered using Windows Media technologies, including Windows Media Video and Windows Media Digital Rights Management. The handset also uses Windows Media Player 10 Mobile to playback video and music stored in multiple formats, with Windows Media Audio (WMA), MP3 and AAC to be the supported file types. Additionally, users will be able to take advantage of portable subscription music services to expand their mobile entertainment library through use of Windows Media DRM. The Windows Mobile 5.0 platform also enables use of popular Windows applications on the go, including mobile versions of Microsoft Office programs such as Internet Explorer Mobile and Outlook Mobile. Users will be able to surf the Internet and synchronize calendars, contacts and email messages with an office or home computer, all in a realtime mobile environment.
"People are constantly juggling personal interests and professional tasks," said Chad Hodge, group product manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft Corp. "The Modeo DVB-H integrated handset uses the power of Windows Media technologies and Windows Mobile 5.0 to converge video, voice, data and productivity applications into a single device for familiar, on-the-go productivity and entertainment."
While the new handset is designed to provide an unmatched TV, digital music and Windows applications experience, Modeo and HTC also included the telephone features and benefits that consumers expect from a traditional handset. The handset utilizes quad-band GSM services (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) to provide international communications capabilities. The handset is expected to support GPRS/EDGE services, enabling high speed data access and file downloads.
BUILT ON PROVEN, BEST-IN-CLASS TECHNOLOGY
At the core of the handset is the Texas Instruments OMAP850 200 MHz digital processor, which furnishes high performance video and audio capabilities, and facilitates Bluetooth, wireless LAN and other popular mobile device features. The Modeo mobile TV architecture includes a DiBcom Proven-Performance DVB-H Demodulator, Microtune Mobile MicroTuner MT2260 and an NVIDIA Go-Force 5500 handheld graphics processing unit, all functioning in a single, seamless device compliant with DVB-H open standards.
Design of the phone includes a standard stereo headphone jack, a 1.3 mega pixel camera and a micro-SD expansion card slot that allows the user to add up to 1 gigabyte of memory for storing hundreds of songs, video clips, games, even full length movies. TV broadcasts and other video are shown on a 2.2-inch QVGA landscape display at up to 30 frames per second. The device operates on an 1150 mAH lithium-ion battery, furnishing projected battery life of up to three hours of TV viewing, four hours of talk time or six days of standby time. Of equal importance, the Modeo handset has a sleek, lightweight design, measuring just 4.1" x 2.2" x 0.6" in size, with a total weight of just 4.23 ounces.
In keeping with Modeo's focus on providing a fun and easy-to-use mobile TV experience, the new handset features an intuitive electronic service guide (ESG). Designed by software developer Penthera Technologies, the user interface is modeled after a traditional in-home TV experience. The Penthera Viewer ESG places control of live video and audio broadcasts—such as national and local news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle content—in the mobile user's hands. The ESG is designed to provide access to free, subscription, pay-per-view and other protected content with an approach familiar to anyone who has used a cable or satellite TV service.
NEW HANDSET LEVERAGES MODEO’S PLANNED NATIONAL MOBILE BROADCAST DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE
To support the new TV phone and a wide range of other mobile devices, Modeo has in place unencumbered spectrum rights and the unique expertise across wireless network, broadcast and content platform operations necessary to deliver a high quality mobile TV experience. The company successfully pilot tested its DVB-H mobile broadcast network in Pittsburgh during 2005. Modeo plans to officially launch this network and its commercial-grade multicast mobile broadcast center during 2006 in select major U.S. markets, including New York City. The company currently is working on deployment of the network to the top 30 U.S. markets, with launches targeted throughout 2007.
CELLULAR TELEPHONE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION WIRELESS 2006 DEMONSTRATIONS
Live Modeo broadcast demonstrations on the new DVB-H integrated smartphone can be experienced in the Microsoft booth, Central Hall #1000.
Models of the Modeo mobile phone can be seen at the Mobile Alliance booth #2653-W and the NVIDIA booth, Central Hall #1853.
Live Modeo broadcasts using a variety of other mobile devices can also be seen at the show in the Texas Instruments booth, Central Hall booth #1039; Philips, Central Hall booth #3000; and ATI, Central Hall booth #1060.
AVAILABILITY
The new Modeo DVB-H integrated smartphone is expected to be available during the second half of 2006.
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