Mobile TV draws billions

Global annual consumer spend on mobile broadcast TV services is expected to exceed �3.28 billion by 2012, according to Juniper Research. Nearly 120 million mobile users in more than 40 countries are expected to receive broadcast TV services by 2012, compared to less than 12 million in 2007, with
DVB-H the dominant transmission standard.

However, the Juniper report cautions that services face significant technological and regulatory hurdles, both
prior to launch and as they attempt to build a mass of subscribers.

Report author Windsor Holden stressed the need for broadcast TV chipsets to be rapidly introduced into a wide range of mass-market handsets to increase take up of the service.

Holden said: “If companies are serious about achieving widespread adoption of mobile TV, it is essential for chipsets to filter down very rapidly from top of the range
Handsets into the mass market models so that everyone has the opportunity to sample mobile TV services.”

Samsung, Giorgio Armani team up to develop TVs and mobile phones

Samsung Electronics said it agreed Sunday to develop new premium electronic products with Italian luxury goods designer Giorgio Armani.

Under the business tie-up the two firms would jointly develop mobile phones, flat-screen televisions and other electronic products, it said in a statement.

The "Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile," the first of the jointly-developed products, will be unveiled during a Giorgio Armani fashion show in Milan, Italy, on Monday, it said.

An "Armani/Casa-Samsung luxury LCD television" under joint development was also ready to be unveiled in January 2008, it added.

"This powerful partnership will match great design with leading technology to ensure performance is as impressive as appearance," said Yun Jong-Yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics.

South Korea's LG Electronics has already teamed up with Italian luxury goods designer Prada to develop a mobile phone.