Information Technology

Mobile TV - is this the end?

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Mobile TV - is this the end?

Introduction

The first ever mobile TV was a small device, portable and pocket sized, having a Cathode Ray Tube screen of 2 inches called Microvision or MTV-1. This first mobile TV was available to general public in January 1997, at a retail price of £100. Since the beginning of the journey for Mobile TV technology, it has been one of the hot potatoes for the technology gurus, and has been under a lot of debate about it competency and advantages. The propagation of mobile phone technology is one of the major reasons behind this debate. To date, there are more than 6 billion mobile phone users in the world. The emergence of mobile phone technology meant that the mobile TV these days is identical with TV on mobile phones (Paulson, 2006, pp.13-16).

Mobile TV has got all the potential to engage the people in evolved forms of activity and communication thanks to digital junction (Cisco Systems, 2010). The content which is available for the users on the internet is giving the television operators a great competition in the digital market. In this scenario, mobile TV has provided the operators with a new and evolved distribution channel of entertainment to the people, which can compete with the internet (Jung, Perez-Mira, & Wiley-Pattona, 2009, pp.123-129). The arrival of 3G and 4G networks and related devices has addressed mobile TV technology issues significantly. The advantages of having a more effective infrastructure of television have been realized by the governments of both the developing and developed nations (Carey, & Greenberg, 2006, pp.3-8), and consequently are investing in this in greater amounts. Above 1000 million users are using either 3G or 4G these days. Reviewing all of these issues, the major question to be addressed is that after the emergence of first mobile TV in 1977, has the time come now for mobile TV?

Market for Mobile TV

For understanding the potential market of Mobile TV technology, understanding the value and efficacy of mobile TV from the end users perspective is very important. For determining the receipt and the practice of a technology, Davies (1989) proposed a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). TAM is considered to be of great significance. Jung et. al. (2009) applied TAM on the technology of Mobile TV. According to Technology Acceptance Model, ease of use and value of a technology forecast its usage. Apparent worth is the amount to which a human being believes that a meticulous information system would improve his or her work presentation. In the context of mobile TV, it is the information system and the user is looking for amusement in watching mobile TV. Perceived simplicity of utilize is the amount to which a person believes that using a specific arrangement would be free of attempt (Jung, Perez-Mira, & Wiley-Pattona, 2009, pp.123-129).

According to research firm TelecomView, 17 million people watched TV Mobile in 2006, a number expected to reach 187 million by ...