ABI Forecasts Boom in Mobile-TV Market

NEW YORK: There will be 500 million users of mobile-TV broadcasts worldwide by 2013, according to new data from ABI Research.

 ABI predicts that the transition to digital will see mobile TV rollouts in new markets across the globe, creating opportunities for content owners, device vendors, service providers and advertisers.

"Mobile TV users have yet to value the medium properly because it has not been validated as an independent product and service," said Jeff Orr, senior analyst at ABI. "It has been primarily offered at the end of a long list of more preferred cellular services. However, mobile TV will soon be positioned in a more proper role as an extension of traditional broadcast TV services. Mobile TV viewing will not solely be on cellular handsets but also on MIDs,and automotive infotainment systems. I believe that once the content is available and the services launched, mobile TV will enable more classes of mobile devices that are ‘natural fits’ for mobile entertainment."