SoftBank to test Qualcomm’s MediaFlo technology

TOKYO—Japanese wireless carrier SoftBank announced it will study the feasibility of using Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFlo technology to offer mobile TV services. Qualcomm said SoftBank joins a growing list of carriers looking into its MediaFlo offering, a list that includes KDDI Corp. in Japan, BSkyB in the United Kingdom and Sprint Nextel Corp. in the United States. Verizon Wireless has already announced its intent to offer MediaFlo services to its subscribers at an unannounced future date.

SoftBank said it established a new company called Mobile Media Planning Corp. to conduct a “technical study” of MediaFlo technology and plan a potential new service using MediaFlo.
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Qualcomm’s MediaFlo is one of a number of mobile TV technologies popping up across the globe. Other technologies include DVB-H, DMB and ISDB-T.

SoftBank purchased Vodafone Group plc’s Japanese operations earlier this year for $15.4 billion.

By Mike Dano
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