Interactive TV Lives Again, This Time On Mobile Phones

from the push-the-red-button-if-you-care dept

Mon, Mar 20th 2006 11:48am — Carlo Longino

While interactive TV services have been available in other countries for several years, they're still largely stuck as the next big thing here in the US -- as they have been for a while. With a new twist on the old idea, now a company wants to offer the same types of services like games related to what's happening on screen over cell phones instead of the TV itself or the internet. It's unclear how using the phone will make these services any more attractive to users, but the company's CEO says it's because "Chances are, the cell phone is right next to them already." Okay, but isn't the remote control, too? Usability also seems like it could be a major problem, given the high latency of mobile networks. Interactive TV has failed to catch on not because of the medium over which it travels, but because people just don't seem to care. Until the underlying services are changed to incoporate something that strike's people fancy, the device they use to access them won't matter.

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9 Comments

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TriZz, 20 Mar 2006 @ 11:54am

Genius...
...my cell phone barely keeps a charge long enough to last me the day - now you want me to play interactive television games on it too?

These phones keep getting more powerful, and the battery remains the same. Eventually - the phone world is going to have to start working on a better battery.
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Lhon0901, 20 Mar 2006 @ 12:54pm

Battery...
Well, I'm not really advertising, but you could try using SonyEricsson Phones. I have and I can use it for long periods of time playing MP3's. That's just a suggestion, though. I may not last you the whole day, but you could use it longer than some phones, I guess... I hope I will not offend anybody here...
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Will, 20 Mar 2006 @ 1:15pm

American Idol
Might work if you can get something like american idol that involves the viewer and lets them express their opinion.. then once you have their number toss them back an upsell.. mabye. Seems like they're reaching really far here.
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yossi, 20 Mar 2006 @ 1:25pm

Seems this would solve the "problem" of time shifting
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TriZz, 20 Mar 2006 @ 1:40pm

Re: Battery...
Probably any phone has a better talk time than mine - I have the Verizon RAZR - and the battery on this thing sucks.

Luckily, in the true spirit of geekiness, I spend most of my time talking to people online rather than the phone.
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Chris / CortaLUX, 20 Mar 2006 @ 3:47pm

Phones
All the nokia phones I've ever had [3] - my battery has lasted over a full day without recharge, though I recharge most nights in any case. I've just got a new LG- and that lasts too.
Just get a better phone:/
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Moogle, 20 Mar 2006 @ 4:51pm

Assault and Battery
I've had my samsung phone for ... huh, about 5 years now. The battery's starting to show its age though, I have to charge almost twice a week now!

If getting a new phone means I'll have to charge it every day (?!?!), maybe I'll stick with this one until it fall completely apart.
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joe-allah, 21 Mar 2006 @ 3:58am

I live in a neighborhood where there are so many wireless networks that there are people who haven't paid for access in years. cough.

They can't all be too stupid to put a password on their routers.
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giafly, 21 Mar 2006 @ 5:56am

XBox Spectator Mode
...is the first real candidate for Interactive TV.

"Microsoft will soon be making use of newly patented technology that allows Xbox 360 players to 'tune in' to Xbox Live games as spectators.

Got nothing to watch on TV tonight; not even saved on your Sky Digital box? Well, very soon Xbox 360 will be offering a whole new 'channel' of spectator events. Microsoft has recently patented a new technology that, in addition to other areas of its vast business, will further revolutionise the way we enjoy videogames online.

The company likens its newest idea to tuning into a sporting event broadcast, with Xbox Live subscribers having the option to watch an online game or event in real time via Xbox 360. This new technology will allow for instant replays, highlights and various dramatic views of the action to resemble what you would normally expect from televised spectator events." - Yahoo! Games
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