Video Streaming Questions

[Guest Mr Orange]

Hi Mr Orange,

I'm new to the site though not an advanced techno warrier, as are some here.  0))

But just a few questions if you can indulge me..

What are the realist prospects for video streaming over the GPRS network at present. Can we expect a usefull service that will provide, say short clips of 20/30 seconds? Will person to person exchange of video over the air be possible eventually..

I gather that the only mobile media-player which is currently interoperiable with all other types is Realnetworks - i.e. the Microsoft media player with all. If true surely this is a large drawback.

What is the purpose of the your Emblaze Player (Orange Swiss) - as at first sight it seems to do much the same job as Microsoft's offering. I'm just guessing, but I assume it's a fill in to do the more advanced Mpeg decoding on handset?

Finally, what are the pospects for receiving TV signals on handsets in the near future? (free?)

Looking forward to your response.

Kindest Regards

VeryTense,

Orange have been evaluating a number of Video Streaming solutions to provide a Video Download Streaming service, look out for an anouncement on this soon.

Video Messaging ( i.e. not live video ) is provisioned for in the MMS specifications once again I'm afraid I can't comment on the availability of devices that will support this service.

The emblaze player was a specific offering for the Swiss market, we are now working to offer similar services acorss the Orange group.

With regards to free TV on your SPV, I'm not sure that is the type of servicee we are currently looking to provide.

I hope this goes some way to answering your questions.

[Guest VeryTense]

Thank you for your reply, Mr Orange.

How very interesting. You said: 'Streaming video'.

On a handset.......Wow!

Congrats to Orange - this really IS a historical breakthrough moment in consumer communication technology.

Just trying to get my head around the many uses of sight & sound combined on a handset (...seems like something out of the Startrek science fiction series of the 1960's! 0)))

Question -I have family abroad, in both Germany and in Spain. I'd love to be able to share video snippets of special moments with them(providing it's not an arm and a leg costwise!). Will the new service just be national, be confined within the international Orange network, or will roaming on to other operators networks be available also?

You say 'look out for an announcement soon' Can I assume from this that I'll be buying a couple of video phones this side of Xmas..?

It's a changing world..

Regards