Aiming to push diverse content types to their wireless customers, video services pioneer MTS Allstream Inc., a subsdiairy of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., has launched two new mobile services – Streaming TV and Streaming Radio.
The mobile news comes just weeks after the telco announced an innovative photos-on-demand add-on to its widely deployed landline telco TV service. (Read MTS Allstream Adds Photos On Demand)
The new mobile offerings were developed by MTS Allstream in conjunction with entertainment server maker QuickPlay Media Inc. and Canadian online music and entertainment network operator Standard Interactive.
The offerings now are available on mobile through MTS Mobility, MTS Allstream's wireless network, covering 97 percent of the Manitoba population. The services presently are available on multimedia compatible devices that include Samsung a900, a920 and m500 devices. The subscription rate for each service is $7 per month. Mobile Browser usage charges are separate.
The Streaming TV service allows users to access TV clips in categories including weather forecasts, sports highlights, comedy clips, movie trailers, horoscopes and more.
"Cell phones today are about so much more than phone calls. Music, news, television – customers want that on their new phones," said Kelvin Shepherd, president Consumer Markets, MTS Allstream.
The new Streaming Radio service, launched in association with Standard Interactive, allows users to access more than 40 stations of digital stereo. This live on-demand, strictly music content is streamed in real time and also available through IcebergRadio.com, Standard Interactive's streaming audio site.
Streaming Radio content includes genres such as: Ill Noiz (Urban/R&B), 2Kool4Radio (Alternative Indie), World Classical, Groove Jazz, 80s Hair Bands (Metal), Hit Country, Classic Country and more.
"Users across Canada have responded enthusiastically to next-generation mobile audio and video services," explained Raja Khanna, chief creative officer for QuickPlay Media. "We saw these two new services as a means of expanding mobile services to a very engaged Canadian market." The company claims its customers include Rogers Wireless, Sasktel and Telus Mobility.
MTS Allstream Inc. www.mtsallstream.com
QuickPlay Media Inc. www.quickplaymedia.com
Standard Interactive www.standardinteractive.com
