Both broadcasting and mobile
web access are at very important crossroads today. The sector is rife with many developments which are of relatively recent
origin. In the field of broadcasting, these include the transition to digital broadcasting, HDTV,IPTV and mobile TV as being some of the more visible facets. However much larger forces are work in transforming
the network architectures and consumer behavior which incessantly modifying the manner in which broadcasting will need to be handled in the immediate future. The
emergence of IPTV as a result of IP networks becoming capable of carrying video services with desired quality is just one
example. Mobile Web access is at the same time undergoing a metamorphosis of its own. It is seeking out technologies which
take it to the next level of connected applications with multimedia, collaborative group interactions, secure and structured
transactions, 3D and location based information being the prime denominators of new applications. It so happens that the new
technologies ushered in by Mobile WiMAX with its open architecture, high speed wireless connectivity with QoS, IPv6 and mobile IP in the core networks meet just these requirements of new generation of mobile web applications.
If this was not enough, the targets of both, broadcasting and mobile web services are increasingly the very same device: a
mobile handset connected to wireless and mobile networks.
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The technologies of mobile WiMAX being an ideal vehicle for a new generation
of mobile web applications are being supplemented by a simultaneous shift in
consumer behavior. The major change in the consumer behavior can be very briefly summarized as a strong move towards mobility. The mobility is of devices as well as applications. The 3 billion mobile phones, increasing wireless access ( over
100,000 WiFi hotspots) and media becoming mobile by virtue of large memories which can be incorporated in the smallest of
devices( 80GB iPods™ and iPhone™) is a manifestation of mobility. This coupled
with the availability of Web 2.0 services including online commerce , connectivity services such as RSS feeds, Blog lines and online communities such as MySpace™ are paradigms which tend make more and more people use media related services from mobile devices
in addition to fixed or wireline devices at home.
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