The US is something of an awkward, late-blooming teen when it comes to wireless tech. It’s barely hit pubescence with emerging 3G technology, and even then the US spec is awkwardly different from the rest of the world – what with it’s alternative frequency choices. But, now it seems that the US is starting to come into itself. Today’s announcement, from the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), put some proverbial hair on its chest as the US straps up for digital mobile TV.
The ATSC will allow broadcasters to utilize part of the Digital TV (DTV) spectrum for transmitting mobile TV using their ATSC-M/H mobile TV protocol. This means that mobile TV broadcasts will share frequency space with HDTV and data signals. And to ensure a smooth experience, ATSC President Mark Richer assures us that his ATSC-M/H standard “will be backwards compatible, allowing operation of existing ATSC services in the same RF channel without an adverse impact on existing receiving equipment.”
The mobilization of US mobile TV comes amid European struggles with market penetration for their own flavor of mobile TV. So, to help market mobile TV in the States, the ATSC has developed ATSC-M/H “to support a variety of services including free (advertiser-supported) television and interactive services delivered in real-time, subscription-based TV, and Non-real-time content download for playback at a later time. It may also be used for transmission of new data broadcasting services such as real-time navigation data for in-vehicle use.”
The dawn of mobile TV is upon us, people! It won’t be long before we’re all watching “Entourage” on our cell phones!
Via: EETimes