Arima Advances TV Handset Design Through Integration of SMS With
Telegent Free-to-Air Mobile TV Feature
2009-05-19 10:17:10 -
London, May , 19, 2009
SMS-TV Feature Enables Consumers to Send and Receive Text Messages
While Watching Live, Free TV on Their Handset; Drives Revenue for
Operators
SUNNYVALE, CA and TAIPEI, TAIWAN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/19/09 --
Telegent Systems, the company that makes television mobile, and Arima
Communications Corp., a leading Taiwanese handset ODM company, today
announced that Arima has enhanced its free-to-air TV handset design
incorporating Telegent's mobile TV technology to enable consumers to
send and receive SMS messages while watching live, free broadcast TV.
The SMS-TV feature, which will be commercially available in handset
designs this summer, is targeted towards consumers who want to chat
with one another while watching their favorite programs as well as
those who like to interact with participation TV programs through
voting or polling. Additionally, the design enables operators to use
free-to-air mobile TV to generate revenue from related phone
services.
SMS-TV Feature Harnesses Growing Consumer Interest in Interactive TV
Viewing
Arima's SMS-TV handset design addresses accelerating consumer
interest in interacting with social networks while watching TV. A
2007 Parks Associates survey revealed that roughly one-half of
broadband users age 18-24 use instant messaging while watching TV.
"Text messaging is one of the top five most appealing features on a
handset," said John Barrett, Director of Research at Parks
Associates. "Integrating SMS with mobile TV enables a TV viewing
experience that young consumers are already very familiar with."
For fans of participation TV programs, the SMS-TV feature provides a
way to take the interactive TV viewing experience mobile.
FremantleMedia, which produces programs such as Idols, the X Factor
and Got Talent, reports that the Idols franchise has aired more than
129 series in 42 territories and generated more than three billion
votes. The SMS-TV feature, by allowing consumers to send SMS
messages while watching TV, provides an integrated platform for both
viewing and interacting with favorite programs.
Delivers ARPU Value to Operators
For operators, Arima's SMS-TV feature opens the door for generating
incremental SMS and data revenue from free-to-air mobile TV.
"Free-to-air TV handsets are extremely popular with consumers in our
core markets," said Stephen Hung, vice president of Arima. "In Latin
America and other regions, operators are adding TV handsets to their
portfolios to meet this demand and differentiate their offerings. If
a consumer is watching soccer and can send an SMS to a friend about
the game, this interactive action can drive revenue for the operator
and increases the value of the free-to-air TV feature."
When activated, Arima's SMS-TV feature automatically scales the TV
screen to accommodate an SMS message window beneath it to allow
sending and receiving of SMS messages. The SMS-TV feature can be
implemented in both low-cost and feature phone models.
"Arima has made a significant advancement in TV handset design with
the SMS-TV feature," said Weijie Yun, president and chief executive
officer of Telegent Systems, "particularly because the feature adds
value to both consumers and operators."
Images of the Arima SMS-TV phone can be viewed at:
www.telegent.com/news/graphics/arima_smstv.html.
About Telegent Systems
Telegent Systems is a leading fabless CMOS semiconductor company
providing high performance, single-chip solutions enabling
free-to-air
and subscription mobile TV in mobile handsets, laptops and netbooks,
and other portable devices. Telegent's solutions make television
mobile, delivering both analog and digital broadcast reception with
unparalleled sensitivity and picture quality in mobile and portable
environments, ultra-low power consumption and the highest integration
simplifying device design and manufacture. For more information,
visit www.telegent.com.
About Arima Communications Corp.
Arima Communications was founded in August 1999 as a member of the
Arima Group, specializing in the research, development, manufacturing
and marketing of mobile communications products. The main products
are
multi-band GSM / GPRS, 3G/3.5G mobile phones and smart phones. Arima
Communications' strategy is to integrate market research, product
design, R&D, manufacturing, product certification, global logistics
and after-sales service into a comprehensive solution for customers.
For more information about the company, please visit
www.arimacomm.com.tw.
Telegent Contact:
Diana Jovin
VP Corporate Marketing
+1 408-9907092
djovin@telegent.com
Arima Contact:
Stephen Hung
Vice President
(+886)2-8227-5341
stephenhung@arimacomm.com.tw
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
