Cingular eyes new ways to put video on cellphones

God Father · #1 (**permalink**) 04-11-2006, 03:02 AM

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Cingular Wireless, the No. 1 U.S. mobile service, is looking at new ways for its customers to get video to their cellphones aside from the subscription based streaming video service it already offers, the company's Chief Technology Officer Kris Rinne said on Wednesday.

Cingular and its rivals now put music and video into phones in efforts to boost revenue and increase customer loyalty by getting subscribers to uses phones for more than just talking.

But as these features are still in their infancy, network operators are still experimenting as they face competition from devices such as Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) hugely popular iPod, which also plays music and video.

Cingular, a venture of AT&T Inc (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and BellSouth Corp. (BLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), already charges about $20 a month to wirelessly stream news and entertainment video clips to its customers cellphones. It is looking at how to add to this service.

One option is to offer live wireless television services though partnerships with broadcasters and another is to allow customers to transfer video files from their computer to their phone, bypassing the wireless network, Rinne said.

Consumers would not have to pay Cingular network fees for swapping video from their computer to their phone through a short-range radio link or a cable, but Rinne said such a move could free up network capacity and attract customers.

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mrbadgolf · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 12:40 AM

Do people actually watch videos on their phone? Seems like it would be very slow.

darktick · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 01:26 AM

I think it would be fast enough, i just think you would need a magnifying glass for it... what's the point of watching tv if you can't see everything... that's why they came out with widescreens and bigscreens... they are gonna do a study a few years down the road and they are gonna say that watching videos on your phone is gonna hurt your eyes. just watch...

Mr. Websites · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 03:04 AM

I agree, paying an additional $20 or so for something that can already be watched on television is somewhat pointless. Also, isn’t transferring video files from computers to any cellular via cable already free? So why would the article, which is almost certainly a press release, mention this as an attractive, new feature?

GeneCosta · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 07:10 AM

The visual quality is probably horrible. It might be worth it for people who are actively on the go, I guess. With the airplane industry beginning to allow cellulars, you might be able to tune in to your favorite show (though nowadays you can probably view it through a laptop) while in flight.

zewlie · #6 (**permalink**) 07-19-2006, 04:01 PM

I wouldn't pay $20 a month just to watch news clips from my phone. However, If I were able to transfer video from my computer to my phone for free - I'd probably use that feature.

scotthughes · #7 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 11:26 PM

I don't know why customers pay fees like $20 a month for streaming videos; it does seem like a waste. Regardless, it is simply good business for Cingular (and other companies) to offer these extra methods. Unfortunately for Cingular, it's a competitive market. They've either got to move with it, or fall out of it.

madison · #8 (**permalink**) 04-21-2007, 07:25 AM

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Cingular eyes new ways to put video on cellphones