/ 10 September 2004

Nokia tinkers with TV for cellphones

Finish mobile phone giant Nokia is to experiment with a cellphone that shows television programmes, the company said on Friday.

The test, which involves Nokia, the British television broadcaster ntl, Sony and mobile phone operator O2, will see television programmes beamed to 500 cellphone users in and around Oxford in Britain.

The special mobiles will be able to receive 16 channels carrying music, sport, news and entertainment as well as interactive TV games and shopping.

The main purpose of the test is to examine the commercial aspects of television on cellphones and the demands of the users will be closely monitored, Nokia said.

A spokesperson for ntl said the company has ”very positive expectations” about the possibilities of television on cellphones. – Sapa-DPA