Ballmer Announces New Live TV Service with BT and Virgin Mobile at 3GSM Keynote

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...MKeyNotePR.mspx

" Unveiling a new TV service for mobile phones and a new unified communications solution for mobile devices, Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer today introduced several innovative solutions and strategies that will generate more revenue opportunities for mobile operators and provide compelling benefits for subscribers. ...He also showed off a new live TV service introduced by Virgin Mobile and BT Movio powered by Microsoft for Windows Mobile ® -based Smartphones, and the new sync center for mobile devices in Windows Vista™, the new Windows ® operating system debuting later this year. Ballmer also shared the first public demonstration of how Windows Live™, the recently introduced set of personal Internet services and software, will extend from the PC and Internet to mobile devices, and highlighted how leading mobile operators are using other innovative mobile services to attract new customers and build subscriber loyalty."


Figure 1: The new Smartphone for Virgin Mobile and the BT Movio service.

I watched today's keynote via Microsoft's webcast and unfortunately, the video was pretty bad. Sorry, I wasn't able to get a better screen capture.
Steve Ballmer made many announcements this morning at 3GSM, including a new ad campaign for Windows Mobile, a new live TV service from Virgin and BT Movio for mobile devices. The picture above is the phone Virgin will be using for this service. I didn't catch who manufactured the device, but it's running Windows Mobile 5 and has a dedicated button on the right that launches the live TV service.


Figure 2: The Hump twins show off Microsofts new Blue Rendezvous technology

Blue Rendezvous is a new Bluetooth management tool that allows you to quickly and easily setup Bluetooth connections. They did a quick little demo and it was pretty cool to see how quickly the phones found each other and transfered files.

Steve also talked about the licensing of ActiveSync protocols to Sony Ericsson and Nokia to allow those devices to connect to the PC and sync with Outlook and Exchange even though they don't run Windows Mobile.
_________________
Want a Chance to Win? Check out our Gigantic Giveaway Event
"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein

[Bushrod]

My wife uses Virgin Mobile. I hope that phone is cheap and comes out soon!

[Darius Wey]

I just realised that red-white outline on the Trilogy is a hump! I didn't make it out when I first watched the low-quality video stream.
_________________
Wish to get in touch? Use the Pocket PC Thoughts contact page to send me an email.
Also, visit the Camera Café to see what I'm serving. Coffee not included.

[Mike Temporale]

[Kris Kumar]

Folks who missed it can watch it over here:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/exe...s/webcasts.mspx

I just finished watching it, it looks like Microsoft feels that it has everything in place to become a major player in the mobile space, initially the enterprise space. Steve and his team did give some demos revolving around Office and Office communicator, how Office and Windows Live is going to be more mobile aware.

I loved the part where Steve B tries to pocket the Samsung i320 and i-mate Smartflip.

[Kris Kumar]