Just as the new year brings hope and excitement so does the International Consumer Electronics show. As a harbinger of innovative gadgets and a launch pad for scores of new products, enthusiasts from around the world look up to it for the latest in consumer electronics and emerging technologies. This year, some 150,000 attendees from 110 countries converged on Las Vegas to get a first glimpse of what is forthcoming in technology-enabled novel products.

From in-car digital electronics to wireless multimedia, there were hundreds of exciting new devices. And mobile TV was one amongst the lot. As a notable application, it is expected to give the handsets a shot in the arm. Analysts believe that as digital cameras fueled the market for 2.5G phones, mobile TV is expected to drive the adoption of 3G handsets.

While TV on a mobile phone display is not new, digital technology brings much needed quality without interference and reduction in power consumption. With improved quality as compared to TV over cellular networks, the new digital broadcast technology also tackles the main problem — power consumption. Broadcasting high-quality digital TV to mobile phones without draining the battery power and shortening its life are now made possible with a new generation of broadband CMOS tuners, low-power demodulators and techniques to slash power in active and standby modes. With the hardware and software pieces of the puzzle coming together this year, along with standards in place and trials in progress, demonstrations of mobile TV at the CES in Las Vegas is an indication that the technology is ready for service.

In fact, several open standards and proprietary solutions are in contention. At CES, backers of digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), a mobile version of terrestrial DVB-T, and Qualcomm's MediaFlo demonstrated their respective capabilities. Others in the fray include digital multimedia broadcast (DMB), amongst others.

Based on the DVB-H standard, Modeo LLC, a rename for Crown Castle Mobile Media LLC, has announced that it plans to deliver live mobile TV to the top 30 markets across the United States. Combining spectrum rights with unique expertise across wireless networks, broadcast and content platform operations, Modeo, a subsidiary of Crown Castle International Corp. is poised to bring innovative mobile TV service to market this year. In collaboration with handset makers like Nokia, Motorola, Philips and others, Modeo previewed its mobile TV service to CES attendees.

Likewise, Qualcomm displayed its Media FLO network, based on its proprietary forward-link only (FLO) technology. Samsung and LG Electronics demonstrated MediaFLO on their 3G handsets. The company conducted live, over-the-air demonstrations of FLO technology, featuring delivery and viewing of multiple channels of wireless multimedia content, on handsets from LG Electronics and Samsung.

MediaFLO USA Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm, is offering interactive wireless multimedia services to consumers in cooperation with U.S. wireless operators. MediaFLO expects to begin commercial operation of the new network in the fourth quarter, creating market opportunities for the entire wireless value chain and delivering on the promise of wireless multimedia to subscribers.

Last year, Modeo successfully piloted its DVB-H mobile broadcast network in Pittsburgh. Modeo plans to launch the service commercially during 2006 in select major U.S. markets, including New York. Modeo is currently working on a nationwide deployment of its network to the top 30 U.S. markets, with launches targeted throughout 2007.

Industry analysts such as Frost & Sullivan and IDC, project the mobile video market will exceed $1.5 billion by 2009. Besides the United States, the DVB-H trials are under way in several countries, including Germany, Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and Singapore. Leading wireless and technology firms including Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Intel, Philips and Microsoft support the standard.