QUALCOMM announced plans to deploy and operate a nationwide “mediacast” network, delivering many channels of high-quality video and audio programming to third-generation mobile phones at mass market prices. The nationwide mediacasting network will deliver multimedia content to wireless mobile devices in the 700 MHz spectrum for which QUALCOMM holds licenses across the U.S. It will be based on QUALCOMM’s “FLO” (Forward Link Only) technology and use the MediaFLO media distribution system for content aggregation, delivery and viewing. The network could support 50-100 national and local content channels, including up to 15 live streaming channels and numerous clip-cast and audio channels using QVGA video at up to 30 frames per second.
The mediacast network, which would be operated by QUALCOMM’s new subsidiary called MediaFLO, would provide interactive multimedia services to consumers in cooperation with U.S. CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) operators. MediaFLO will aggregate and distribute the content that is available to all MediaFLO partners and will provide integration of this content with unique content that individual operators provide to maintain their competitive differentiation. MediaFLO would enable the carriers to deliver mobile interactive multimedia to their wireless subscribers without the cost of network deployment and operation.
MediaFLO said its service would also benefit TV stations and networks, cable TV and satellite operators and networks, and other content providers by offering a major new distribution channel that complements their current offerings.
QUALCOMM expects to invest $800 million in MediaFLO over the next four or five years. The company said it plans to eventually spin-off MediaFLO to its shareholders. http://www.qualcomm.com
- QUALCOMM’s FLO multicast technology transmits packets using OFDM. It is complementary to existing cellular networks because interactive services are supported within the mobile device using the CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO or WCDMA cellular link. QUALCOMM said FLO is intended as an alternative to other multimedia multicasting technologies, such as DVB-H. The company believes its FLO technology will prove advantageous where low battery power consumption is critical.
- QUALCOMM said that by deploying high-power transmitters on tall towers provides superior coverage with 30 to 50 times fewer towers than cellular and higher frequency-based systems.
- QUALCOMM acquired the majority of its 700 MHz spectrum (UHF channel 55) spectrum in the June 2003 FCC Auction No. 49.