3G video in California, March 2006

MobiTV
I visited MobiTV, Emeryville, CA (formerly Idetic). MobiTV is a mobile TV/Radio ASP prvoiding both content aggregation and managed technology to MNOs such as Sprint, Cingular, Alltel 3UK and Orange UK. We met the VP sales Kevin Grant and the CTO Kay Johansson. Their focus is content distribution but they see some value in user generated content or personal video communications if user acceptance develops. We discussed technologies such as H.324M (not deployed in North America) , DTMF-driven video navigation, expanding to community sharing services for photos/videos etc...The long term vision could evolve towards IMS/group applications offered as a managed service.

Verizon Wireless
I visited their 3G lab, Walnut Creek, CA at the invitation of 3G network planning Sergei Karpov who described the activities of VZW Advanced technology lab (the video specialists were out of town so another visit will be needed). They were running the CDMA 2000 EV-D0 Rev A trials (the capacities are 550Kbps uplink / 1.8Mbps uplink, low latency all IP - the wireless profiles are described in IS-835D-C) to prepare roll-out in 2007. The services include video telephony, video instant messaging, push to talk/video and streaming (evolution of VCAST). Trial handsets likely to include Audivox, Motorola, LG, Samsung with (H.263 / EVRC - EBRCb - EVRC-wb codecs, Brew IM clients needed). We also discussed the success of Amp'd Mobile, Los Angeles CA, who is an MVNO on VZW EV-DO aimed at 18-35 year olds wth services featuring video. They work with Break.com, a viral video web site. AMP'D investors include, MTV, Universal Music, and other VCs, rumored to be in the region of $120 million. Amp’d . They sell 3 handsets from Motorola and Kyocera (MPEG4-VGA video).