[limmk]

HANDPHONE owners in Bahrain have beaten users in this region - they can now watch live television news and music videos on their handphones.

The service, launched by MTC-Vodafone Bahrain, is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

It allows customers to download and view music videos, movie trailers and other audio and video content on their handphones, said Mr Eddine Salman, senior adviser to MTC group's mobile data services.

He said: 'We are in a global village and this is the new way of life.'

Back in Singapore, MediaCorp, the Media Development Authority and Nokia recently held a live demonstration of their handphone TV, which is expected to hit the market in about two years.

In Bahrain, the handphone TV service is available to MTC-Vodafone's estimated 50,000 customers.

It will be expanded to Kuwait, Jordan and Lebanon later, Mr Salman said.

Customers can choose from:

-Entertainment programmes and local news from Bahrain Television

-Live regional Arabic news from Dubai-based, 24-hour news channel Al Arabiya

-Music video clips from the Saudi-owned entertainment channel Rotana.

The company, which has over 2.5 million customers in Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, is working on extending the service to non-Arab customers.

It is currently pursuing a deal with US-based Cable News Network. - Wire services.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/sto...68600,00.html?

[thomaslee]

wow... so high tech ah.. must be investment from txxxxxxx....