MUMBAI: Everyone is gung ho about Mobile TV. A group of heavyweights -- Nokia, Motorola, Texas Instruments, Intel and Modeo have joined forces to form an organisation named Mobile DTV Alliance
The alliance has been formed to promote a standard for broadcasting digital TV on mobile devices.
The representatives from the five companies intend to discuss the technology in Las Vegas during the conference and exhibition of NATPE Mobile++ 2006. They plan to promote open standards and strategies for delivering broadcast TV to mobile devices in North America.
The alliance is stated to be an important step as operators are chalking plans between DVB-H, digital audio broadcasting (DAB) technology and MediaFlo, Qualcomm’s technology.
Various operators are desperate for new sources of revenue, such as mobile TV, as call costs are dropping due to competition and regulation and revenues are suffering.
"The mobile TV market is heating up, with both trials and deployments accelerating over the next 12 to18 months," said David Linsalata, research analyst for mobile markets at IDC. "The support of key industry players in promoting the advantages of the DVB-H standard will significantly aid mobile TV deployment efforts in North America."
An open procedure, industry-supported standard is expected to foster growth throughout the wireless market with more choices across the value chain from silicon, handsets, services and more. This should allow Mobile DTV handsets and services to reach the mass market faster and at a lower cost to consumers, informs an offical release.
Using mobile devices capable of decoding DVB-H signals, users will be able to receive live TV programming from the mobile TV function directly on their phone and other devices. 
In addition, users will benefit from on-demand and interactive programming that would utilize the cellular network, thereby
increasing revenue opportunities for operators. The DVB-H standard benefits operators by preserving cellular network bandwidth for voice and other data services.
Furthermore, mobile broadcast TV together with 2.5G and 3G networks offer an exceptional user experience and more efficient utilization of operators' spectrum and resources.
There are more than 10 DVB-H network trials that have either concluded or are currently underway around the globe, including Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries. By
2007, most U.S. major markets are expected to have DVB-H infrastructure built out and ready for deployment.
Members of the Alliance will hold a panel session and DVB-H demonstrations at NATPE Mobile++ later today at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, to discuss the Alliance and the DVB-H standard.