AT&T Announces Pending MediaFLO Launch
Humberto Saabedra
In a press release today, AT&T has announced the pending launch of its new MediaFLO-based mobile television service after many false starts, which the company will simply name AT&T Mobile TV.
The service will be identical to VCAST Mobile TV currently offfered on Verizon Wireless, with the addition of two channels exclusive to AT&T subscribers with service beginning in selected markets starting in May with no firm date given.
The service uses Qualcomm’s MediaFLO service, which operates on the upper end of the 700Mhz spectrum and provides one-way access to customized mobile channels from networks such as NBC, Comedy Central, ESPN, MTV, and others.
The first two devices to be launched with support for AT&T Mobile TV will be the Samsung Access which features a landscape QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera with video recorder, Bluetooth, microSD slot and UMTS packet data, while the second will be the LG Vu, a derivative of the PRADA fashion-oriented device with a capacitive touchscreen display at QVGA resolution, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, media player, and 2.0 megapixel camera.
