Qualcomm to pull plug on FLO TV
October 5, 2010
Qualcomm is in the process of shutting down its mobile broadcast FLO TV service. Wholesale customers, such as those on AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless, will not be immediately affected. The white-label service, which is resold by both carriers, will continue running as is for the foreseeable future. But that is likely to change down the road say US reports.
Media FLO floundered like most broadcast TV services on mobile because users prefer to use short form content downloaded or streamed over the 3G network or wi-fi. The service first launched with Verizon in 2007, then in 2008 with AT&T. It’s been trialled elsewhere in the world. Qualcomm then launched direct-to-consumer FLO TV in 2008, based on made for purpose portable players.
FLO TV’s direct-to-consumer service will wind down operations by the end of 2010, and Qualcomm is in discussions with the wireless carriers about the future of the wholesale services side.