Verizon Wireless is the first cellular carrier to take part in a broadcast TV network for mobile phones that Qualcomm plans to launch in late 2006, writes the Associated Press. The companies did not say what type of programming would be featured over the MediaFLO system, which will be broadcast to mobile phones over a different of the wireless spectrum than voice and data services.
Thus far, in the U.S., because of limited download speeds and the sharing of capacity with voice and data, mobile carriers have shied away from live TV and stuck to short news and music video clips.
When it first announced MediaFLO, Qualcomm said it would likely feature a choice of live TV channels, similar to cable. Using Qualcomm's wireless licenses, the network is being designed to deliver up to 20 live streaming video channels and 10 audio channels across much of the U.S.
