[3GScottishUser]

ORANGE, the mobile phone operator, is developing technology that will turn its handsets into TV remote controls.

Customers will be able to programme their video recorders while on the move via a joined-up service that will also transfer pictures and music stored on a PC, or TV channels available at home, to mobile phone screens.

Orange is hoping to launch its British broadband TV offering in the third quarter. It intends to give customers the ability to access and transfer content between all three screens - PC, television and mobile - during the next two years.

There are also plans for a search facility that will allow users to type in a key word, for example Madonna, and summon information such as articles, music, photos and videos or text alerts about forthcoming concerts.

Eric Abensur, who oversees Orange's home services, said: "When you buy content you should be able to watch that content wherever you want to, whether that is on your TV, on your PC or on your mobile.''

The technology promised will not be available from launch, however, and Orange will need to work quickly to differentiate its service from TV offerings already available from BT, Virgin Media and Tiscali, the broadband company.

Mobile remote control technology is already available on a small scale in the UK from Sky and the 3 network. Orange claims its service will be unique because it will develop and deliver the technology in-house rather than relying on third parties.

The launch of broadband TV will allow Orange to go head to head with Virgin Media by offering the same four services.

France Telecom, Orange's parent company, launched a TV service in its home market three years ago, and has now introduced it to Spain and Poland. It has 600,000 TV subscribers in Europe, making it one of the biggest players in what is still a niche market.

http://voipforsmb.tmcnet.com/news/2007/02/19/138105.htm

[Ben]

That's quite interesting stuff - it's clear that in just a couple of years we're going to have three, four or maybe five big tripple/quad-play operators who will account for the majority of television, telephone, broadband and mobile connections in the UK.

I'm starting to see just how dangerous the times ahead are, now, for those not going down this route...

[Hands0n]

I remain slightly sceptical about all of this at the moment. The big problem that any of the producers of any of these multiple-play offerings have is to convince the average Joe in the street that this is something that is needed/required/desired.

To date, the mobile operators have failed to encourage people to use their handsets for much more than telephony and texts. They've effectively crushed Videocalling out of existence by punitive tariffs - way to go to kill the initial golden goose (isn't greed wonderful?).

The pressure to get a quick return on all of those 3G licences has blinded the networks into trying to charge premium rates for everything possible rather than encourage use by low-prices.

Mobile TV has yet to prove itself - and even the commentators are beginning to question whether it ever will over and above what the pocket Casio sets of old ever did. False starts such as Virgin's digital TV to the Lobster and Orange and 3's MobiTV do the medium no favours. The best, to date, seems to be Vodafone's 3G TV, but even that is not shifting in bucketloads - it is a bit expensive for something that is likely to be used when nothing else is available.

For sure, for the one who gets this right and persuades the buying public accordingly, there is money to be made. But they have to get it priced right, get the technology to work simply and reliably, and most of all not get greedy and want a return in the first six months as seems to be the norm these days!

[solo12002]

" ORANGE, the mobile phone operator, is developing technology that will turn its handsets into TV remote controls"

Lads there is a good reason for this step, its simply just the fact that Orange has a dam poor data package for users on 3g just like Vodafone, and O2 and need to find something for us to do with our 3G handsets!

once again Im sorry who gives a f about using handsets for turning the dam TV if we cant use or cant use due to price our 3G handsets for what they sould be used for ie internet access from our handsets at a good speed at a fair price.