Immediately after the IBC broadcast trade show, Dutch mobile-media provider Icemobile announced what it calls a breakthrough. Its newly presented VideoCall2TV technology is intended to let owners of modern 3G phones participate directly in television programmes, such as game shows, through a video call carrying live pictures. Existing formats have so far limited viewer interaction to telephone calls or text messages.
The company describes VideoCall2TV as the first solution of its kind worldwide. Icemobile offers it as a complete package to both television producers and broadcasters. The technology is intended to work on any 3G device over any 3G network and can be billed by the minute.
“Icemobile’s customers include media and telecommunications companies such as MTV, Endemol, Vodafone and T-Mobile,” said company head Ralph Cohen. “For years, these companies have generated considerable revenue with SMS-to-TV services. VideoCall2TV opens up new and profitable opportunities in interactive, user-generated television.” The technology and formats were demonstrated to a selected group of international broadcasters during IBC in Amsterdam.
