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QuickPlay could be game-over in Europe

by: admin Friday, February 9th, 2007

Rating: data charges can kill

QuickPlay Media is perky about offering its technology to mobile video solutions to carriers and content providers in Europe, after “the success of major 3G deployments in North America”. Whoopee do.

It doesn’t matter that QuickPlay Media says its works with companies including Disney Group’s ESPN Mobile Publishing, CBC / Radio Canada and MTV Networks and mobile carriers including Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility to offer video on demand services.

The biggest single barrier to video use in Europe is confusing, exorbitant data tariffs, like the bloke who was charged GBP 950 for watching two hours’ mobile TV last December.

Consumers don’t understand – and shouldn’t ever need to care about – off and on-portal or what a megabyte of video looks like.

Until this is sorted out and users are clear about what they will be charged, video will remain a nice-to-have, not an integral part of people’s every day lives.

On the upside, it is nice to know that there is technology that claims to be second generation video and a great improvement in quality on the first one for when the operators are finally dragged, kicking and screaming, into the real world.

For more information see

www.3g.co.uk/PR/Feb2007/4244.htm