BT's mobile TV: More than Virgin's

BT's newly launched mobile TV service may be coming to an operator near you, with several apparently interested in signing up.

The service received its official launch at the 3GSM Congress and will soon be available on Virgin Mobile, which has signed an exclusivity deal with the telco.

However, according to BT Movio MD Emma Lloyd, BT is in discussions with a "number of operators" over rolling out the service.

Lloyd said that getting further operators on board with mobile TV will benefit more than just BT. "It's in everyone's interest, including Virgin's," she told silicon.com.

She wouldn't be drawn on whether any deals have yet been agreed with other mobile providers, however.

The first mobile TV handset to use the Movio service was also unveiled at the 3GSM show. The red and grey ergonomic device, the Trilogy, is manufactured by device maker HTC and will run on Microsoft's mobile operating system. Lloyd told silicon.com a number of other handsets from other phone vendors will be available in the next few months.

The service will be available from this summer and will feature around 60 DAB radio channels and five TV stations. The launch line-up is yet to be finalised.