Monday November 17, 2008 – Stewart Wolpin
Details are beginning to emerge on the upcoming Advanced Television Systems Committee-Mobile/Handheld (ATSC-M/H) standard, AKA mobile DTV.
Once implemented, ATSC-M/H will enable consumers to receive local digital TV broadcasts on a variety of devices via either a built-in tuner or an add-on tuner dongle.
ATSC-M/H, based primarily on technologies from LG and Samsung, is currently in the "Candidate" Standard period and is being voted on by ATSC members. The balloting closes Nov. 25 and the standard is expected to pass, which opens the door for immediate product development.
Even though it has not been ratified yet, the broadcasters are already performing field testing. And equipment suppliers are already developing receivers and infrastructure equipment. The accelerated time table is designed to get mobile broadcast on the air as early as possible in 2009.
Expect to see product prototypes at CES, products which could include the first cellphones and Portable Media Devices (PMP) with built-in ATSC-M/H reception capabilities, USB dongles to enable laptops to be used as TVs, or even standalone handheld mobile DTVs.
