Qualcomm, developer of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, today announced it will offer previews of forthcoming FLO-enabled smartbook applications at Mobile World Congress. The applications unite live TV viewing with real-time Web content, social networking capabilities and personalized digital media stored on the device that can be accessed at anytime.
Running on Snapdragon-enabled smartbook devices, the applications are designed to deliver powerful new consumer entertainment experiences. The technology seamlessly combines live mobile TV programming with personalized, real-time streaming data and access to popular social networking sites like Twitter, along with additional content, such as video clips and e-magazines. The new smartbook applications illustrate Qualcomm's vision for the future of broadcast mobile media and allow consumers to receive rich, relevant content while watching their favorite programs and simultaneously connecting with other people that share similar interests. For instance, sports fans watching a live match can receive real-time data streams about athletes and team stats while also engaging with fans around the world watching the same event.
"We are enhancing the smartbook experience, making it easy for consumers to watch TV and ‘tweet' with friends and other viewers, all while accessing a full range of relevant content," said Bill Stone, president of FLO TV Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm. "The idea of watching television on your laptop is not new, nor is the idea of receiving personalized information about things that matter to you. However, marrying our FLO-enabled broadcast services with the content consumers love and the social networking platforms they frequent is new, and it illustrates how mobile media and the Web can come alive together for the ultimate in a personalized experience.
"Snapdragon-based devices with their long battery life and advanced 3G connectivity are changing the way consumers access mobile content and entertainment," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "Combining the strengths of FLO mobile broadcast technology with our chip platform makes for a powerful and addictive connected entertainment experience for consumers and helps us to clearly differentiate and rise above competitive mobile entertainment solutions."
Another first-time demonstration will feature a Windows-based portable computer with the Zinio Reader application. The interactive digital magazine demonstration will showcase how FLO technology can be employed for the broadcast delivery of data-intensive multimedia files. Digital magazines are delivered over a dedicated FLO network and stored on the mobile device for a convenient, optimized reading experience. As a dedicated mobile broadcast technology, FLO technology is ideally suited to offload data traffic from 3G networks or to deliver other types of data to large audiences, thereby freeing 3G networks to support more voice traffic and other high-revenue services.