German test of handheld TV set to launch Thursday

Test television broadcasts designed specially for mobile phones are to begin Thursday in the German city of Regensburg using a format, DMB, that has been on air in South Korea since December.

Viewers will be able to use the tiny 2.2-inch colour displays of phones to watch the same channels available on ordinary TV sets. The signals are converted to the Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) standard to suit the limited battery power of cellphones.

DMB, which was briefly tested in Germany during the football World Cup in June and July, is one of two broadcast standards under scrutiny in Europe. The other is named Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld (DVB-H).

The state of Bavaria’s agency for new media said Sunday the test in the city of Regensburg would run into 2007. The wireless industry hopes the ability to pick up TV shows will encourage consumers to replace their mobile phones with new models.

DMB currently has a headstart because the transmission aerials already exist and receivers are already on the market in Korea. The South Korean Communications Ministry is one of the test sponsors. Similar tests are planned in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

(Source: dpa)

Source: Media Network

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