I agree with you about the two forms of mobile TV, but I wouldn't kill off MobiTV yet. They've been doing well for a subscription TV service. I think if they combine forces with free-to-air TV or get operator partners for their new version of TV Everywhere - they will be around for awhile.
It's all about the business model, though, isn't it? Carriers are finding it hard to make profitable margins from fixed line video (IPTV) and mobile video looks a long way from adding to the bottom line.
When mobile video can deliver some EPS then it will kick off. Maybe that time is now, and maybe that discussion will be had at TelcoTV. But that's the killer criterion, I think -- will it deliver profit.
With FLO TV announcing its close of service in 2011 and ATSC mobile DTV still taking its time, no one seems to be waiting for things to happen.. in fact they are moving very rapidly for comfort.
Mobile TV ( or Video if you prefer) is now strongly making a comeback with the new devices supporting Internet TV or OTT TV. The AT&T U-Verse extended to mobile devices is only one such service.
iPhones and IPADs with Os 3.0 and above come with HLS streaming protocols to efffectively deliver Mobile streaming video using HTTP. Google is not behind with its May 2010 announceent of WebM using VP8 codecs and Matroska technology to provide smooth streaming. Microsoft has cut its teeth on Silverlight Mobile for high quality streaming players.
Most new Smartphones and Mobile devices we seee in 2011 will be fully capable of viewing OTT TV delivered over Telco networks.
I agree with you about the two forms of mobile TV, but I wouldn't kill off MobiTV yet. They've been doing well for a subscription TV service. I think if they combine forces with free-to-air TV or get operator partners for their new version of TV Everywhere - they will be around for awhile.