CES: OMVC Expands Membership To Manufacturers, Others

Dell, Harris, LG, Samsung Mobile join mobile DTV group

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/4/2011 9:59:06 AM

The Open Mobile Video Coalition has for the first time invited non-broadcast members to join the group through a new Mobile DTV Forum.

The coalition, which is working through the technical issues of mobile DTV, is an association of over 900 TV stations and now at least four electronics manufacturers--Dell, Harris, LG and Samsung Mobile.

That those would be the anchor institutions for OMVC's expansion of membership to tech companies and beyond should come as no surprise.

LG and Samsung have a long history in the short history of mobile DTV development, teaming up back in 2008 to head off a possible standards battle over a technical standard for the service.

OMVC was using Samsung, Dell and LG receivers and laptops in its D.C. test of mobile DTV service last year, while Harris teamed with LG on the transmission standard for mobile DTV.

But OMVC says it will also be recruiting members from software and content providers to "represent the entire Mobile DTV ecosystem."