The solution, based on the DVB-H standard, contains all the functionality of a complete digital TV receiver in an area the size of a thumbnail. It will enable consumers to connect to live TV, as wellas pictures, movies and music, all on the move. Philips will be demonstrating its DVB-H capabilities at the 3GSM World Congress, Cannes, France, 14-17 February on stand A17, Hall 1.
Facilitating the development of TV on mobile, Philips will roll out a small system board in Q2 2005 to support handset vendors participating in the next phase of DVB-H trials. This will be followed later in the year with a full SiP for DVB-H that will offer a reduced footprint and lower power consumption. Low power consumption will mean consumers will be able to watch TV for over 10 hours before needing to recharge their phone, and the small chip size will make it easier to integrate into the mobile phone. With DVB-H, operators can also broadcast mobile phone software updates to a large number of handsets simultaneously, enabling the addition of revenue-generating applications after a phone has been purchased.
To further enhance the offering, Philips has partnered with Silicon & Software Systems (S3) to integrate its onHandTV software into the solution, an advanced DVB-H-compliant product that complements the Philips SiP. As part of the agreement, S3 will join the Philips’ Nexperia Partner Program, an initiative to enable Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Integrators to deliver middleware, applications and reference designs based on the company’s Nexperia family of semiconductors.
To enhance the user experience of TV on mobile, Philips Software offers a complete application that supports H.264 video and AAC audio for high-quality viewing and listening. It also incorporates Philips’ world-class picture and audio enhancement IP from its proven consumer electronics products, including Natural Motion for smooth, easy-to-watch images and “smart color mapping” for attractive colors on LCD displays. High-performance features such as these will play a critical role in creating sustained consumer demand for mobile TV services.
