Convergence. Blurred lines between technologies. Development at break-neck speeds in communications technologies. Digital terrestrial television & DTH. SMS, MMS via cellular networks. (Soon from land-lines too.) Watch out for TV-on-the move!

Advances in SMS TV technology may well be taken as a reflection of the progress towards convergence.

Advance of SMS TV

February 8 saw the launch of 'Hub TV' in Singapore. Local firm Star Hub launched the SMS / MMS enabled TV Channel. Unlike a conventional TV channel, Hub TV utilizes existing cellular networks as an additional channel for carrying viewers' feedback. (Conventional TV channels establish one-way communication with the viewer via cable network or direct antenna.)

SMS/MMS enabled Hub TV allows its viewers to chat on-air with real-time response, giving the same effect as an internet chat room. Hub TV also allows viewers to participate on-line in opinion polls, contests, etc. And for advertisers, Hub TV offers real-time promotional messages.

The Hub TV screen is divided into 4 sections:
'Video' panel - This panel corresponds to the conventional TV screen - it displays broadcast content.

'Live Chat' panel - This panel acts like a chatroom on the Internet. It is now possible to send SMS messages from cell phones to the TV public chat room, with the same effect of an internet chat room. (An auto-filter can be pre-set to automatically block offensive words & a human content moderator can 'approve' messages before they are broadcast.) The system also allows private chat between registered users of the interactive TV channel, with options to block specific users.

'MMS Board' panel - This panel displays MMS pictures (greetings, etc.) sent from cell phones. A human moderator 'approves' images before they are broadcast.

'Contests' panel - This panel is used for hosting contests, quizzes & opinion polls via SMS.

Developments in Telecom
Consider the following:
* GSM is the cell phone technology first adopted by "cellular operators".
* CDMA (WLL) is the technology adopted by a 2nd set of operators (most of whom also offer "basic telecom" land-line phone connections).
* Internet access is available via cellular networks as well as land-lines.
* The new 3G (third generation wireless technology) reconciles GSM & CDMA. With the International Telecommunications Union adopting 3G, it will soon be impossible to distinguish between basic telecom operators, cellular operators & internet service providers!
* Voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) & packet-switching has demolished all distinction between voice & data services, local, long-distance & international calls.

Wi-Fi - the new kid in the block
As if developments were not fast enough, we will soon have a new technology called Wi-Fi (short for wireless fidelity). This technology was developed to build wireless computer networks. Wi-Fi works on open spectrum (2.4 GHz - 5 GHz) at speeds ranging from 11 Mbps to 54 Mbps. Since most Govts. have de-licensed this band, there is no need for a license to set up a Wi-Fi network.

Here is a likely scene circa 2004:

A local operator installs a Wi-Fi wireless base station transceiver, connected to an existing communications backbone. Thousands of subscribers (spanning across vast areas) can connect their Wi-Fi enabled PCs, notebooks, PDAs & other internet devices to this base station. And by using VoIP-on-WiFi, subscribers can access cellular, land-line, cable & the internet at a small fraction of today's costs!

The cost of Wi-Fi-enabling a PC is expected to drop to $10; the next generation of PCs & internet devices would come Wi-Fi enabled. And PCs, notebooks, PDAs & other internet devices could connect to Wi-Fi networks, en route to the world!