RCom to expand mobile TV offerings on GSM network

Reliance Communications is in advanced talks to sign a technical alliance with Apalya Technologies to offer mobile television (MobiTV) on its recently launched GSM network.

Apalya will offer RCOM its proprietary platform Mimobi enabling Reliance to offer Mobile TV services on its GSM network. Currently, RCOM offers Mobile TV services on its CDMA network with over 13 news and TV channels using its real-time streaming technology.

“In order to offer the Mobile TV application on its GSM network and to increase the number of handsets that can support the Mobile TV application, we are tying up with Apalya to enhance the width of usage”, said Krishna Durbha, Head - VAS, Reliance Communications.

Currently, RCOM through its strategic tie-up with ESPN is offering all ICC World T20 matches through its R-World VAS platform. The company also provides subscribers an option to have match scores and expert commentary on the matches as their caller-tune.

Mobile TV company Apalya Technologies has received Rs 2 crore investment from Mumbai Angels, a network of angel investors. Apalya aggregates premium entertainment content from many different content providers, and then optimises the content to be suitable for small-screen or mobile viewing. The firm was founded in December 2005 by Vamshi Reddy and Shiva Bayyapunedi, who have combined experience of 26 years in the IT industry.

According to industry analysts, there are three major factors influencing the growth of Mobile TV in India. “Firstly, large number of mobile phones do not support streaming mobile TV. Second, Mobile TV requires a high band-width network (like a CDMA 2000 1x or 3G ready GSM Networks). And finally the operator needs to have the unicast streaming platforms and content tie-ups to ensure the best content experience of Mobile TV,” noted an analyst adding that RCOM has been strong in these factors.

Post the Apalya tie-up, RCOM will be able to offer this service across its 3G ready GSM network too.With Apalyas partnership, it is possible to offer over the air download of the video player on those handsets which do not have a native player thereby increasing the penetration of rich multimedia services.

Apalya’s Mimobi technology uses progressive download for playing video. Progressive download means the application initially downloads some part of video file (buffers it), and then it starts playing the video file. While playing the video file, it simultaneously gets remaining part of the video file. “This way you get the advantage that user need not wait for full download of the clip. Progressive download happens over http,” the analyst noted.

Explaining further the analyst said: “The advantage of such progressive download is that the customer is able to start playing 5 minutes of clip within 1 ½ to 2 minutes. This is better compared to full streaming as in progressive download the quality of the played clip is same as produced clip at production site.”