DnC Multimedia Corp (fka DCNMQ)

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DMB "DVB H" - undated article

As with most new technology, various teams have come up with different ways to tackle the problems and resolve various issues dealing with digital video broadcasting (DVB) to mobile devices. While these different ways of approaching the problems ultimately give consumers robust technology, during the shake out period consumers are often left holding the bag if they choose one of the technologies that ultimately looses out in the competition.

DMB DVB H is one of the technological solutions being sold around the world for this new market. What makes this standard a little different is that it is an open source product rather than a proprietary standard from a single manufacturer. While this approach has not been extremely successful in other market segments (ie: Linux vs Microsoft), the backers hope that they have introduced the open source concept early enough in the development process that they will be able to convince manufacturers, broadcasters, and developers to adopt this standard before the inevitable industry shake out narrows the field down to two or three standards world wide.

Already this approach seems to be paying off. A number of different suppliers have already announced or introduced devices that will receive and play video signals in this format. These suppliers include: Gigabyte (GSmart t600 and q60), LG (U900 and KU950), Motorola, Nokia (N72 and N77), Samsung (SGH-P910, SGH-P920, SGH-P940, and SGH-F510), Phillips (HotMAN2), and Modeo (3389).

More importantly there have been a number of different chip manufacturers that are producing chipsets to support the DMB DVB H devices. This will ensure that there is robust supply of the electronic brains necessary for the devices that customers will use. This will help to keep device costs down by insuring that there is a ready supply of the necessary chipsets. These manufacturers include: Infineon Technologies, Qualcomm, DiBcom, NXP Semiconductors, Sony, and Texas Instruments.

The variety of chipset suppliers and user equipment suppliers is having an impact on the political decisions about what standard to adopt for this new technology. Viviane Reding, the EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, in March 2007 went on record recommending that the DMB DVB H standard be adopted by the European Union as the official standard for mobile video broadcasting. If this is, in fact, adapted by the EU, it will go a long way to establishing this as one of the main formats around the world.

Trials and demonstration projects are in progress in many countries including the United States. So far this year there have been demonstration projects and rollouts in Las Vegas (Hiwire Mobile Television), Hawaii (Aloha Partners), and New York City (Modeo). Modeo plans to have the DMB DVB H systems up in the top 30 US markets by the end of 2007. Modeo owns 5 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum at 1600 MHz covering most of the country while Hiwire owns two separate 6 MHz channels at 700 MHz across the country. This makes both of these broadcast suppliers potential nationwide competitors.

While it is certainly too early in the shake out process on the DMB devices to declare winners, it certainly looks like the DMB DVB H standard has a good chance to be one of the top players when the systems settle out and the dust clears.
http://www.satellite-tv-service-now.com/dmb-dvb-h.html