Sprint, Samsung to Trial DTV

Sprint-Nextel Corp. will begin trials of mobile digital television in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore markets during the first quarter of 2010. The service will be available on the Android-powered Samsung Moment.

The handset, which boasts a 3.2-inch AMOLED display screen for crisp colors, bright pictures outdoors, and wide viewing angles, will receive live digital TV using Samsung’s Mobile DTV Chip. Initial TV programming will come from local broadcast stations, including prime-time network programs, local news and sports and emergency alerts.

Mobile live television to date has been a clunky experience, and one that is unproven from a customer demand perspective with previous offerings turning in lackluster uptake. But the recent rise of online TV and long-format downloads to devices like the iPhone have made live mobile television a conversation again. The trial will go a long way to proving out the usage models for all carriers.

“Samsung Moment is already a customer favorite with its integrated and innovative Android platform, so we are very excited to be able to offer it with the Samsung’s Mobile Digital TV chip to customers in the Washington and Baltimore areas,” said Fared Adib, Sprint vice president of product development, in a statement. “It is truly an amazing experience to watch local and network television on Moment with the benefit of its dynamic screen.”

Samsung was also the co-developer of the ATSC standard that is making mobile digital TV broadcasting possible on mobile phones, laptops, USB drives and other mobile devices. Samsung’s single-chip implementation of the standard is the world’s first.

The two will be demoing the North American mobile digital TV broadcasting standard during the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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