The BBC has taken the next step in its web-based progression by delivering live TV broadcasts to mobile users.
The live TV service, currently in beta and launched as part of a revamped BBC Mobile homepage, provides mobile users with the ability to tune into live simulcasts of BBC channels - including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC and BBC News.
Despite offering easy access to live television whilst on the go, the service is described by the BBC as a trial awaiting further development - a statement compounded by its current limitations.
At present, the BBC's mobile live TV is broadcast at a resolution of just 176x144 to ensure compatibility across a wide range of handsets. In addition to the low-resolution image quality leaving plenty to be desired, the service is currently only accessible via Wi-Fi and is consequently restricted to Wi-Fi-enabled handsets.
Though the BBC plans to make the service available via 3G at a later date, it also faces an uphill struggle in regards to content, too. The broadcaster doesn't currently have the rights for all of its programming to be made available on mobiles and certain programmes such as live sport are therefore notably absent.
If you're interested in trying it out, point your mobile browser to http://www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/live/tv/ and remember, you do need to be covered by a TV licence to watch live TV on any device.
*update - Tuesday April 7, 2009*
The BBC has been in touch with HEXUS to inform us of a widespread misunderstanding regarding its mobile TV beta.
Sarah Mines, BBC technology publicist, has informed us that the beta has in fact been running since September 2008 and that the BBC is looking into providing support for a wide range of Wi-Fi-enabled handsets from the likes of HTC, Motorola, Palm, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Apple's iPhone and T-Mobile's G1 are notably absent from the list, and that's due to the iPhone's lack of support for streaming and the G1's absent media player, says Mines.
Clarifying the situation further, here's the BBC's official statement in its entirety:
Our future media teams are continually innovating, and looking into how we can take BBC’s first class content to ever wider audiences. To do this we regularly test new technology developments. But contrary to some media reports, the BBC has not launched a new service to bring live TV or radio to mobile phones.
The BBC iPlayer, including live TV and Radio, is now available on some mobile handsets and has been for some time. The BBC has been running a public beta to test live TV/Radio, on a limited number of Wi-Fi enabled handsets, via the mobile homepage since last September. The purpose is to test uptake and quality and assess how we might be able to stream live services to an increasing number of mobile devices in the future, but we are some way off this becoming a full BBC service.
