Nokia N77 to be launched at 3GSM: Mobile TV in phone

Nokia is set to unveil its first mid-priced mobile TV phone model next week, as the world’s top handset maker aims to increase the awareness of television on the go, sources close to the company said.

A lack of affordable TV phones has capped the take-up of mobile television services around the world. The few available models are among the most expensive handsets on sale.

One source at a Nordic operator told Reuters the new model will be similar in form to Nokia’s N7x series.

The N7 line-up is part of the N-Series multimedia phones aimed at the mass market, with N8 and N9 series aimed at more specific segments.

The phone, expected to be called the N77, is set to be unveiled at the 3GSM mobile communications trade show in Barcelona next week.

It will be able to receive TV signals broadcast in DVB-H technology, one of the most popular of the many new digital broadcast formats for mobile devices.

"Immediately when the phone prices reach the 200-300 euro price point, mobile television goes mass market," the source said.

Harri Mannisto, a director in Nokia’s Multimedia unit, declined to comment on the possible product launch.

Source: Reuters

We don’t use DVB-H here in America, and the television providers aren’t smart enough to converge on a mobile IPTV standard.

Speaking about that … why doesn’t Nokia do something about it? TV is definitely a killer app for 3G.

About The Author

Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.

luca Filigheddu

Do you think that TV is a killer app for mobile ? I don’t think so. We have DVB-H in italy since the beginning of 2006 and it’s pietously failing. Why ? DVR is needed or, at least, video on demand. Not really DVB-H. Because you are not willing to spend more than 5 minutes in front of your cell’s screen. Results are proving that, unfortunately.
Stefan Constantinescu

“you are not willing to spend more than 5 minutes in front of your cell’s screen. Results are proving that, unfortunately.”

If that were true then Nokia wouldn’t be launching N-Gage again.

You’re right about dvb-h failing since most people are going to tune in to their favorite channel, see that their favorite show isn’t playing, and then shut off the TV app.

You’re right that video on demand would fix this. I could watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force wherever I want thanks to 3G.

In that regard TV is a killer app. One of them.

For me the number 1 killer application of 3G is the internet, people love to surf and if you can give them a pleasurable experience on a small device they will be hooked on their screen.
PlayerKill

I think it’s more likely to be called N74.

That reminds me, the N92 will never be finally released? It seems so. -.-” I know they are available in China, but when will the phone be officiall released….
Henrikki

DVB-h has nothing to do with 3G if we are really technical about it. I don’t think the TV signal use UMTS or other cellular radio frequencies.

I’ve seen the N92 in action. I think the screen size is just right compromise for mobile device. The screen is big enough for watching video for sure. It’s interesting to see what kind of concept N77 is, if we get one.
Stefan Constantinescu

i never meant to imply dvb-h has anything to do with 3G

what i did mean to infer is that streaming television, over 3g, is what it going to drive 3g adoption
Varun

But i thought that the N77 was already out

Relaunch ?