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Nokia looks at regular TV programmes on mobile
MUMBAI: Would you watch the finale of Indian Idol on a two inch screen attached to your mobile handset? Finnish cellphone company Nokia believes you will. The company has started a pilot project, adhering to the Euorpean DVB-H standard,under which regular TV programmes are being transmitted to handsets fitted with special accessories. The sample base located in Helsinki, Finland numbers 500. The announcement was made by Nokia on Tuesday.
Other companies which are participating in the project include: Finnish broadcaster YLE, and programming units of MTV, CNN, BBC World, Euronews, Eurosport, ViVa Plus, and Fashion TV.
The test is expected to end by 20 June.
Meanwhile, Nokia vice-president (mobile TV) Mark Selby had told the DVB World 2005 Conference in Dublin (Ireland) last week that early trials from the test had revealed that the cellphone generation will be as comfortable watching regular television content on their TV equipped mobile handsets. “The model that we anticipate is going to work best,” Selby had said, “is straight broadcast television.” The group he called the “mobile generation” is going back to the “tube.”
He added that that later content makers and broadcast editors might succeed with “tailored content” specially suited to a microscreen and the short battery life of a mobile device, but “that would be delivered alongside broadcast content.”
He had pointed out that research in Europe had revealed that as about 20 per cent of cellular phone users were willing to pay around 10-20 Euros above their current mobile bills for cellular TV. Additionally, AT Kearney had announced that its research had shown that a substantial cellular user base was willing to cough up an additional $20 a month for the same service.
For those who believe that bandwidth could be an issue, well Qualcomm and Texas Instruments are working overtime to surmount the hurdle. Qualcomm’s is investing $800 million in setting up its MediaFLO unit in the US. The system is expected to facilitate content aggregation, delivery and viewing while supporting 50-100 national and local content channels, the company had announced in November last year. The network is expected to deliver QVGA video with as much as 30 frames per second capability as well as high quality stereo audio in the 700 Mhz spectrum. Texas Instruments is also further testing its Hollywood chipset to bring broadcast signals to cell phone service providers.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
