Smart Communications seems to be on steroids these days with the number of new services that it has rolled out recently and a few more still in the pipeline.
But one very interesting offering that the mobile operator is testing right now is mobile TV. As pointed out by Smart’s Ramon Isberto, the cellular carrier will just serve as a "delivery platform" and that the new service is actually being implemented by its sister company MediaQuest Holdings Inc.
This is because MediaQuest is the holder of Congressional franchise required for broadcast services. Mobile TV, unlike 3G, is transmitted through a technology platform called Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVBH), a "digital TV broadcast" system that is similar to the one being used to deliver TV signal to homes.
Isberto, along with his team from the company’s public affairs group, gave me and two other colleagues the chance to see and experience for ourselves the new service. It was cool but can’t say I was awed by it because I have already seen it being demonstrated in Sydney in 2005 when Nokia launched its first mobile TV-enabled handset, the N92.
We tested the service in a small restaurant inside the newly opened Serendra complex in Bonifacio Global City, a stronghold of the Ayala group. Surprisingly, we got a good signal that’s almost as clear and crisp as those delivered by cable connection.
Only foreign channels such as CNN and Basketball TV are available during the test run. But not to worry, Isberto assured me that negotiations are ongoing to bring local channels as well. He, however, couldn’t tell exactly as to when the service will be deployed commercially.
The availability of mobile TV-enabled handsets, particularly those running on the DVB-H platform, seems to be issue that is yet to be resolved. The unit that was shown to us during the demo was N92, a phone model that launched globally last year but wasn’t made available by Nokia to the local market.
The Finnish phone maker, intriguingly, is adopting a wait-and-see attitude with regard to this development.
During a recent press conference, I asked Nokia Philippines country manager William HamiltonWhyte if the company will be bringing in new DVB-H units now that Smart-MediaQuest has announced the pilot run of its mobile TV initiative.
"Testing is one thing, but having it commercially is another," is HamiltonWhyte’s reply.
This strategy is quite different to what Nokia has adopted in the Philippines in the last few years.
Remember that during the time when there was still no 3G service, Nokia already flooded the country with 3G-capable handsets. The same was true for text messaging -- the phones came even before the service.
"It’s a classic example of the adage "build and they will come."
But maybe Nokia and Smart are cooking up something we’re not aware of. And before we know it, we’re hooked in it once more. —Melvin G. Calimag
Ex-Microsoft exec joins ABS-CBN
Employees and managers of Microsoft Philippines led by TJ Javier, the managing director, and close friends of Mark Yambot hosted last week a farewell party for him. Mark has resigned as director for public affairs of Microsoft Philippines. Microsoft has yet to announce his replacement. Mark has been with Microsoft Philippines for almost a decade now and perhaps he deemed it’s time to move on. He rose from the ranks starting as customer systems manager in 1998, marketing director in 2001 and corporate affairs director in 2003. Mark is joining ABS-CBN Channel 2, a leading TV and radio broadcasting network as head of the strategic shared services effective April 16, 2007. He intimated to us that he’s happy for being a part of Microsoft, the world’s largest software company. Mark was given the opportunity to join ABS-CBN which he said is part of the Philippine history. At the prime of his career, he wanted to be part of ABS-CBN. TJ Javier was apparently surprised when Mark had resigned his job. Microsoft and the IT industry would be missing Mark who is hard-working guy. Good luck on your next job!
Meanwhile, SSS is bidding out R3.9 million worth of two file transfer protocol servers including software and services. The bids will be opened at the Green Room, 12th Floor, SSS Main Bldg., East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City on 30 March 2007 at 2:30 p.m. All bids will be opened in the presence of their representatives.
On another front, Gus Lagman, one of the pillars of the local IT industry, is posting a bail of R10,000 on a R10-million libel case filed against him by a consortium in the billion-peso Comelec computerization project which was voided by the Supreme Court. He will appear before the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. to post the bail. IT organizations such as ITAP, ITFP, PITEF and concerned citizens and IT professionals should rally behind Gus in his struggle for the Filipino people to have a transparent, fair and lawful conduct of the computerization program of the Comelec. Gus, hindi ka nag-iisa! —Edu H. Lopez
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