Siemens demo's Linux phone with digital TV receiver

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Mar. 15, 2005

Siemens is demonstrating a Linux-based "concept device" that doubles as a mobile phone and digital TV receiver, at the enormous CeBIT trade show this week in Germany. The device supports the emerging DVB-H standard, and can record and time-shift digital content, as well as make calls.

(Click for larger view of Siemens DVB-H concept device)

The DVB-H (digital video broadcast, handhelds) standard is derived from the terrestrial DVB-T and the satellite DVB-S standards. DVB-H specifies that content be broadcast in bursts, enabling handheld receivers to power down at intervals to conserve battery life.

As a digital service, DVB-H should offer improved picture and audio quality, and enable service providers to carry a large portfolio of stations. According to DVB.org, the technology is currently being trialed in Germany (Berlin), Finland (Helsinki) and the USA (Pittsburgh), with additional trials planned for Australia, France, and the UK. The UK trial will give 500 people access to a 16-channel DVB-H service featuring a range of programming, including music, news, sports, drama, and cartoons, the organization says.

The Siemens DVB-H concept device features a large VGA-resolution (640 x 480) color touchscreen display, stereo sound with built-in speakers, and a broadcast DVB-H receiver. The DVB-H receiver is reportedly based on a DibCom's DIB7000-H chipset.

InfoSync World reports that at CeBIT, Siemens transcoded a live DVB-S (satellite) broadcast into a DVB-H signal with a five-second delay. The concept device ably received and rendered the DVB-H signal -- which used H.264 compression -- into partial or full-frame motion video, according to InfoSync World.

The concept device also included a software emulator of a Siemens cameraphone (screenshot), according to InfoSync World, which enabled it to provide telephony features. Other planned features include PVR functions, and MP3, video, and other multimedia functions.

The InfoSync report is available here, while a brief PC Magazine story is here. The Siemens website offers a video, available here (mpg file), which shows the DVB-H concept device being shown to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (photo at right) in Siemens's impressive 7,000-square-meter booth.

Other phone makers, including market leader Nokia, are widely reported to be working on DVB-H product or products. Market Research firm ABI reported last December that Texas Instruments is also working on a chip for TV-enabled mobile phones.

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