Mobile

Competition in Mobile Video Could Threaten Mobile Operators

2007-09-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

Just like the late 1990s when 3G was deployed, billions are being spent to deploy systems capable of delivering video to mobile devices.

However, In-Stat reports that “mobile” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as “cellular.” New technologies and business models are now under development that may threaten mobile operators’ ability to profit from video content, the high-tech market research firm says.

“Cellular operators may find that consumers won’t be as interested in their video offerings once other types of service are available,” says David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst. “Of the five methods of mobile video delivery studied in a recent In-Stat report, two operate outside the current cell phone ecosystem, and a third--out-of-band video--seems to be allied to mobile operators for commercial convenience, not technological necessity.” All three, Chamberlain says, could bypass mobile operators altogether.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* Free-to-air mobile video, being considered by broadcasters, could disrupt other video services associated with cellular operators. * Tech-savvy users’ interest in time- and place-shifting services from Orb and Sling Media threaten to bypass operators’ walled gardens. * Even though video that can be delivered entirely from within the operators’ walled gardens was first to market, it suffers from general user apathy, according to an In-Stat survey of US mobile users.

NOKIA N 81

2007-09-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

With dedicated music and gaming keys, 3.5 mm headphone connector and 3G and WLAN connectivity, the Nokia N81 multimedia computer is a true mobile entertainment powerhouse.

With a sleek, polished surface and keys that light up when you activate them, accessing content on the 3D multimedia menu is fast and intuitive. The Nokia N81 is configured to find, buy, manage and play music and games purchased from the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage games service.

The estimated retail price of the Nokia N81 is 360 EUR before subsidies or taxes. The Nokia N81 8GB is expected to retail for 430 EUR before subsidies or taxes. Both versions are expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Nokia N81 Specifications
* Network: WCDMA 2100 + E850/900/1800/1900MHz

* Operating system: Symbian OS ver. 9.2

* User interface: S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack (S60 3.1)

* Weight: ~140 grams

* Size: 102 x 50 x 17.9 mm (Length x Width x Thickness)

* Hot swappable microSD memory card slot

* Battery: Nokia Battery (BT-6MT) 1050mAH

* Talk time: up to 240 minutes GSM / 180 minutes WCDMA

* Stand-by time: up to 17 days

* Music playback time: up to 11.5 hours

* Video recording time: up to 3.5 hours with QVGA

* Gaming time: up to 6 hours

* Display: 2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels), up to 16.7 million colors

* Dedicated media keys for quick and easy access to music and video: play/pause, forward, rewind, stop

* Dedicated game & volume keys

* Integrated hands-free speaker

* WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) support

* Bluetooth Specification 2.0 (profiles supported: DUN, OPP, FTP, HFP, GOEP, GAP, SPP, HSP, BIP, A2DP)

* Micro USB 2.0 Full Speed (mass storage class)

* Nokia AV Connector 3.5mm

* Java MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.1

* Flash Lite 2.0

* 2 megapixel (1600x1200 pixels) camera with flash, MPEG-4 VGA video capture of up to 15fps * Front camera (CIF)

* Video call and video sharing support (WCDMA network services)

* Nokia Nseries digital music player supports MP3 (VBR), AAC, eAAC+, AAC+, WMA/M4A, WAV

* Integrated stereo speakers

* 5-band equalizer

* Nokia AV Connector 3.5 mm (can also be used with standard 3.5mm headphones)

* Navi wheel support

* FM Radio with Visual Radio support

* RealPlayer Media Player

* Full-screen video playback on the device to view downloaded, streamed or recorded video clips

* Dedicated game keys

* Play games in landscape or portrait view

Mobile

2007-08-29T22:29:00.000-07:00