Free mobile in-car TV gets closer

By: drivers.com staff

Date: Wednesday, 20. May 2009

There are no commercial devices yet for the free mobile digital TV some U.S. broadcasters are promising, but they will forge ahead with plans to test such a system in three cities later this year.

The Open Mobile Video Coalition, a group of TV broadcasters, made this announcement at the start of the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas on Monday.

LG Electronics has said it will begin producing Mobile TV chips this June and Dell has announced plans to make a Netbook computer with an LG chip later this year.

One broadcaster has called mobile TV �potentially a killer app�, and driving safety advocates will no doubt be hoping that this does not turn to be literally true. However, they may not have to worry for a while yet. While the technical problems of mobile TV are being solved, the practicalities of making it available to consumers at a reasonable price and in suitable devices, still have a way to go.

Nevertheless, "Digital mobile TV in the car is a huge opportunity," according to Brandon Burgess, OMVC president. Developing a suitable business model will be a major hurdle. Younger age groups are expected to be most accepting of the technology and most eager to have it.

But the demand for such a service is being questioned, especially in the current economy. Most likely a partnership between broadcasters and major wireless carriers will enable the service to hit mainstream markets.

However, such a partnership may have to wait for better economic times.

Meanwhile, law makers, traffic law enforcement officials and driver educators continue to battle with public opinion over distractions already in the car. The debate is hot:

"So how long will it be before some idiot runs into and kills someone because they were watching Oprah on their cell phones instead of paying attention to freaking driving? Like if you are driving a car, shouldn't your main focus be on driving - duh!", complains one commenter on the Washington Post.

Another countered � "People have been watching TV while driving since someone made a TV small enough to easily fit inside a car. New technology will not enable a new wave of stupidity. That distracted knucklehead will kill someone with or without digital TV."

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