Nokia and a group of Finnish operators and media firms launched on Tuesday a pilot programme allowing users to watch television on their mobile phones in the central Helsinki area. Nokia said the 500 people in the programme would use its 7710 phone model to access 11 television channels - both in Finland as well as international channels such as BBC World and CNN - and three radio stations.
The pilot, which builds on feasibility tests done in late 2004, will run until June 20. Nokia said the feedback from the initial tests was positive and that the technology would soon be available in more of its phones than just the 7710.
"In 2006 we will be bringing this functionality to Series 60 (software)," Nokia Multimedia unit head Anssi Vanjoki said, referring to the platform used to run Nokia's smartphones, which offer limited personal computer-type functions such as email.
The telecoms operators taking part in the project are Swedish-Finnish TeliaSonera and Finland's Elisa. Both said that to start, the billing would be similar to that used for regular TV subscriptions.
"We decided to go with monthly-based billing for this pilot," said TeliaSonera Finland Development Manager Pekka Pesari. "The basic access fee will be 4.90 euros ($6.49) a month ... and you can then pay 3.90 euros a month for satellite services."
Officials added that participants would have to show a permit, which they would have bought to watch television in the Nordic country. The permit costs 194 euros a year.