Mobile Media 2006
The Marriage of Content and Control
Prepared by Scott Sizemore, NMC Lead Analyst
Some of the most important consumer electronics device announcements of early 2006 were as focused on the content conveyed as by the device as the device itself. 2005 sensationalized the possibility of true mobile multimedia devices, but only realized the launch of a variety of crude multi-use gadgets that were difficult to use and offered poor connectivity. The big story in the CE industry this year is not in the invention of breakthrough devices, but in those devices becoming more easy to use, wirelessly (well) connected, and offering mainstream content from multiple sources.
The difficulty is not in determining weather or not these products have become a reality, but in what to call them and how to use them: are they phones with music players, music players with video, storage devices with a stable operating system and Broadband connectivity? The best multimedia mobile devices are all of these. The question goes beyond showcasing device features, but with the extent of their advancement, the topic explored here is what features have enabled the mobile media explosion and what kind of content is being produced?
To begin with we need address device features that are 'tickets to the game' for mobile multimedia and communication. Some of the key advancements in cross-functional mobile devices include:
• Broadband Internet Service
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboards
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Windows Mobile 5.0
• Scroll and Mini-stick Navigation
• Removable Memory
Two Windows Mobile devices that meet the above criteria are profiled in the Feb/March edition of Smartphone and Pocket PC , are the Sprint PPC-6700 Phone Edition Pocket PC and the Nextel i930 Smartphone. (You may skip the next two paragraphs if you don't want the top level features list…impressive as it is!)
The Sprint PPC-6700 is small and sleek, powered by a 416MHz Intel PXA 270, provides a 240x320 pixel 64k color transflective touch screen, and features a fully functional and lighted QWERTY slide-out keyboard that automatically changes the display to landscape when the keyboard is in use. The keyboard may be used in conjunction with a stylus that supports block and character recognition and handwriting recognition. The Mobile Windows 5.0 OS offers mobile office including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel, Media Player Mobile 10… and add on applications including GPS that are too numerous to list. The camera supports video (save in motion JPEG, AVI, MPEG-4) and still image (1.3 megapixel) capture with light. Oh, and the phone is fully functional and clear CDMA 800/1900MHz.
The Nextel i930 is powered by a 180 MHz Motorola processor, provides a 176x220 pixel or 90x65 pixel 64k color display that is more inline with a traditional wireless phone and is not touch-screen enabled. While the Sprint PPC-6700 offers more features, the Nextel i930 concentrates on traditional Nextel phone functionality including 'walkie-talkie', but also offers the smart-phone features of Windows Mobile 2003 built in OS that features Outlook Mobile, IE mobile, Media Player Mobile 10 and a built in 3rd party GPS applications. Unlike the Sprint PPC-6700 the Nextel features an alpha-numeric keypad with a directional navigation center button. This is a GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 phone.
In short, both of these devices offer cutting edge phone functionality, can store and play media on a clear color screen, may be broadband enabled, and easily sync with your desktop. The two devices profiled above represent a new generation of mobile devices and mobile users. The realization of such functionality has created a breakout year for Mobile Content Services.
The major content aggregators are promoting their new mobile friendly services: Yahoo's Terry Semel promoted Yahoo!Go at this years' CES that includes features such as local and WWW search, a desktop dashboard access that recognizes your mobile device type, is reported to work across eMail types and can aggregate to one inbox and save the data from your mobile device via Yahoo!Go.
Not to be left behind, Google launched the personalized home page for mobile phones last fall that also allows local and WWW searches and a check of Gmail eMail, news, etc. all from a centralized page for the mobile user. Google is also further establishing partnerships with device creators to promote well organized and accessible mobile content: "As mobile technology continues to converge, consumers are becoming increasingly more connected and require access to information at home, at work, and on the road," according to Google Product Manager Deep Nishar.
Beyond mobile application access, we are seeing a tailoring of entertainment content for mobile devices: Creating content for mobile devices is not only within the comfort zone, but is the primary new media target for major media outlets. Many micro-content publishers are creating a specific service for mobile downloads. PureVideo Networks, the parent company of StupidVideos.com and GrindTV.com has long offered PG-13 Internet shorts, but are now tailoring their offerings for downloaded and viewing across devices other than the desktop. "Many of today's youth, and an estimated 1/3 of the World's population will never touch a PC. At Pure-Video it is our goal to provide content that can be enjoyed in short segments across a variety of devices." Reports Chris Hebert, Vice President of Product Development for PureVideo Networks.
It is not only Internet publishers driving what is coming to be know as MobileTV , but we are seeing traditional media creators from commercial advertisers (Jeep launched it's own mobile channel) , to cable networks such as MTV, ESPN and Comedy Central among the cable networks offering select mobile content. Even CBS is debuting a micro-series, 'The Courier', that will originally air in prime-time commercial spots of 60 second episode shorts, then be available for mobile download via the Verizon Wireless V Cast service.
In summary, there are more developments in mobile control and content than can be kept track of in a static brief such as this . The marketplace demand for innovation in this arena is forcing a marriage between mobile content and control of the devices it is played on. The will lead not only to innovation in devices, but expansion of content generated not only by traditional content producers, but by users who are able to easily record and 'cast' their own short pieces.
Where from here? Anywhere, you can take it with you. One thing to be sure of is that there is more to come and you will be able to get it from your mobile device.
