KEY POINTS:
A select few have had a glimpse of the likely future, watching their favourite TV shows from mobile phones that can receive live programme broadcasts.
The technology - DVB-H (digital video broadcasting for handheld) - is still a novelty here and the phones capable of displaying it, which cost about A$1000 ($1134), are also not widely available in New Zealand.
But about 40 Aucklanders were given a week-long taste of where-ever, when-ever television on mobiles.
Telecommunications specialist Kordia broadcast six channels, with Television New Zealand, CanWest, Sky and Alt TV all providing live content direct to the mobile phones, from its Waiatarua transmission site.
The broadcast, which ends today, is the first of its kind in New Zealand, says Derek Nielsen, Kordia network services general manager.
"It's like clear, normal television but you hold it in your hand," he said.
The DVB-H technology runs separately from cellular networks, allowing television broadcasts on a UHF spectrum - much in the same way as digital television works - without taking away a cellphone's other capabilities.
Mr Nielsen was confident New Zealanders could see the technology within the next two years.
Bruce Webb of Nokia Multimedia, which is pioneering the technology around the world, said trials overseas proved popular and the technology would soon reach New Zealand.
He was unsure of how much it would cost New Zealand users but studies overseas showed that Britons were willing to pay about £8 ($21.70) a month for content, while most Australians who had used the technology said they would pay $15 a month for 15 channels.
Mr Webb said: "People say it's a global village but things are coming down to a global street and this really brings a level of immediacy to people that they would never have seen before.
"There's the convenience factor with these things."
Mr Nielsen said Kordia was working with Nokia to generate interest in the technology locally. "We are just waiting to see how the market reacts to it and we are in talks with content providers to see what they think."
