Seagate Technology announced what its called a co-operation with STMicroelectronics, a mobile chipset maker and Quantum SPA, a handheld TV technology developer, to produce hard drive-based mobile devices that will let users receive, record and playback digital TV signals.
The solution, based on Quantum’s QTM 1000 Pocket Television platform, will be built around STMicroelectronics’ Nomadik mobile multimedia application processor and Seagate’s mobile hard disc drives.
The companies expect to market the solution to digital television providers, network operators, handheld device manufacturers, and others looking to participate in the growing availability of digital television signals around the world.
According to Seagate, with market imperatives and regulatory trends moving many countries toward digital broadcasting, new business models are expected to open up for mobile video usage. The ability for users to receive digital broadcasts opens up many ways to extend the current broadcast-to-home model. Some of the content delivery models around digital television include: live broadcast, DVR time shift recording of broadcast TV, pushing content to the hard drive, streaming video and music content, on-demand downloads, automotive entertainment.
Based on the Nomadik application processor, the QTM 1000 already allows users to bring a mobile digital television experience with them wherever they go. The addition of Seagate Lyrion 1.8-inch hard drives, or connectivity to Seagate’s Digital Audio Video Experience (DAVE) wireless storage platform, may give users access to a mobile DVR solution that extends control and choice of TV viewers.
Patrick King, senior vice president and general manager of Seagate, said the DVR experience is fast becoming an integral part of the television landscape. This partnership underscores the growing importance of the mobile entertainment consumer, and how Seagate is working to enable new markets.
Comment: cdnedit@itbusiness.ca