The Hindu : International : Films for mobile phones

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

International

International

Films for mobile phones

London: The choice between a bracing walk or an afternoon in front of the television will soon be a thing of the past. Mobile phone owners are being targeted by a company that has developed technology allowing them to watch full-length films and TV shows on their handsets. From next month, tiny chips will allow most people with recent models to turn their phones into mini DVD players. The technology makes use of the card slot that mobile phone manufacturers have recently begun adding to their handsets as a means of storing music and photos. The so-called MMC slots are included in most of the latest models. It is estimated that as many as 15 million compatible phones will be sold in the U.K. alone next year, as network operators push customers to upgrade. The company behind the technology, Rok Player, plans to sell Digital Video Chips containing television shows and films. Because the content is stored on the card and not transmitted over the phone network, customers can watch the shows as many times as they like and are not thwarted by the lack of a phone signal. With the new phones sporting larger colour screens and high quality audio, Rok Player claims that watching a television programme or film on a handset is no longer the headache-inducing prospect it once was. The software contained in the chips also allows users to turn their phone sideways and watch the footage in full screen ``letterbox'' format.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International