BT closes Dab mobile TV service

BT is closing its Movio service which delivered TV to mobile handsets via the same DAB infrastructure used for digital readio.

The move follows the endorsement this week of rival DVB-H technology by EC Commissioner for telecoms Viviane Reding, which may mean adoption will become mandatory next year.

A BT spokesman said the EC move had been a factor, but so had the poor choice of handsets, and a lack of take-up by both mobile operators and users.

"Operators are starting to deliver this kind of service using their own 3g spectrum. And the fact that the drift seems to be towards DVD-h means they would be unwilling to invest in DAB."

THe EC move has c aused some anger in Britain, because DAB is well established here for audio radio and DVB-H will require extra investment.

Virgin Mobile is the only operator to offer BT Movio services. BT said in a statement: "BT is discussing the timescale for the closure of the service with Virgin Mobile. While the feedback from users on the service has been complimentary, Movio sales have been slower than originally expected mainly due to a lack of compatible devices from the big brands.

"This in turn has been caused by the fragmented nature of the mobile TV market and hesitancy on the part of the main network operators as they seek to fill their own largely underutilised 3G networks.”

Virgin Mobile said in a statement that the service will continue at least until the end of next January 2008. "Ee will ensure that all customers affected by the closure are kept informed of changes to their existing service. Customers will still be able to access DAB radio services on their handsets, which our research has shown is a key attraction of the product for many users."