Not long after the first announcement confirming the future launch of the Mobile DTV service via MetroPCS later this year, Mobile Content Ventures, the consortium responsible for Dyle Mobile DTV has confirmed a new tieup with wireless hardware manufacturer Belkin to produce hardware tuners for the iPad and other smartphones alongside the yet to be officially confirmed Samsung smartphone with Mobile DTV capability.
As previously reported, the Dyle Mobile DTV initiative will be the first attempt to deploy the recently ratified ATSC M/H broadcast standard on a commercial level with MetroPCS spearheading the launch with the aforementioned Android smartphone from Samsung. The service will launch in much of the US with many of the major and minor over the air broadcast networks being made available to view over the Dyle Mobile TV app.
The new tie-up with Belkin is meant to expand the service outside of dedicated handsets and out to smartphones and tablets, with the goal of wide adoption as an alternative to standard portable televisions with standard terrestrial ATSC antennae, which cannot be used while in motion due to the inability for the tuner to maintain a steady signal in order to receive programming, while Dyle Mobile TV is designed to be used while in motion or outdoors.
The service has yet to have pricing or launch details confirmed, with external dongles and the aforementioned Samsung smartphone being demonstrated at CES all this week. It should be noted that Qualcomm had a similar agreement with automotive aftermarket manufacturer in Audiovox for MediaFLO with plans to release dongles and commercial availability of in-car systems before its liquidation via agreement with Chrysler, which met with a tepid response.
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