MobiTV, one of the early entrants in the mobile video business, is always pushing video content over networks that seem ill-equipped to handle it. That might change soon, thanks to a new technology the Emeryville, Calif.-based company is about to implement called the Enea Accelerator Platform.
Enea is a relatively unknown Swedish company based in Stockholm. It has a set of technologies that enhance video quality over a variety of networks, including wireless and IPTV networks.
I have been watching news clips and sports shorts that are sent by MobiTV over Sprint’s (S) EVDO network. It does the job, just not well enough. It’s not MobiTV’s fault: their Wi-Fi-based offering is pretty damn good, but the quality is hurt by the vagaries of the Wi-Fi signals.
MobiTV and companies like them are going to have to come up with tools that assure the quality of video, because as the 3G services get popular, networks will increasingly be impacted by the crowding of the airwaves.
MobiTv was a good concept for the 2003-04 world as it existed but not beyond that. Now its just an old idea that will not play well with new and improved cellphone hardware or the likes of Media-flo or the possible 100 faster cheaper ways people will have access to the same content.
Sling has a much better chance to make it on the long run by working with cable and satellite partners and add it as a bonus to your current service. (EchoStar)