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Microsoft launches video download service for mobile devices

3 April 2005 16:56 by James "Dela" Delahunty

Microsoft has launched a new service that will allow customers to download video content like news and sports from MSNBC.com, Fox Sports, The Food Network and others. The Redmond-based software giant believes that there is a new market for video content on mobile devices and hope that their new $19.95 a year service will allow them to get a ice chunk of the market. The service will work with devices like Portable Media Centres, Smartphones and Pocket PCs. Microsoft launched their Portable Media Centre last year and made deals with content providers such as MTV Networks, Napster, and SnapStream Media to make video content available that is compatible with the portable media centre.

"The launch of Portable Media Centers in 2004 began a new era of portable entertainment, and the announcement solidifies the continued momentum we've seen for portable video," director of Windows Mobile Applications and Services Marketing at Microsoft, said in a statement. "With content from some of the most recognized brands in entertainment, MSN Video Downloads helps bring this vision to life, allowing people to take their favourite television shows with them whether they are on the train, waiting for a doctor's appointment, or keeping the kids occupied in the back seat of the car."

"Readily available digital video content remains a key driver for the portable multimedia player market," Josh Martin, associate research analyst at IDC, said in a statement. "The proliferation and growth of video service providers will serve to fill the existing video content void and increase adoption of portable multimedia players such as Windows Mobile-based devices." However not all are convinced that such a service would be of any great success like Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst for The Enderle Group

"Virtually everyone with handheld technology is convinced that people want to watch TV on their devices. I'm less convinced," he said. "If people were really excited about watching TV on handhelds, handheld TVs would have sold well. Handheld radios do well. Comparatively, handheld TVs like those from Casio in the 1990s never sold well." He also pointed out that while using a portable radio, you can do other tasks outdoors whereas you would have to watch a portable TV, which limits what other activities you could be doing.

Source:
Infoworld

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