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Gigabyte Communications unveils GSmart i200 DVB-H handset

Press release, October 23; Eric Mah, DIGITIMES Asia

Gigabyte Communications on October 20 unveiled its GSmart i200, a DVB-H Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 3.0 VGA handheld device, at the 3GSM World Congress Asia 2006 in Singapore in conjunction with Innoxius Technologies and Penthera.

"Gigabyte Communications is proud to demonstrate the GSmart i200 phone, particularly live mobile broadcasting using Penthera viewer to provide a VGA viewing experience," said Christopher Chen, General Manager of Gigabyte Communications' Global Sales and Marketing Division. "By providing a complete, open-standard, feature-rich solution set, the GSmart i200 addresses the needs of operators worldwide who are seeking devices that support revenue growth opportunities associated with mobile broadcast services."

"Innoxius is excited about the cooperation with Penthera and Gigabyte Communications on offering this end-to-end mobile television solution," stated Edmund Yong, CTO of Innoxius Technologies.

"Penthera is very pleased to work with Gigabyte and Innoxius to showcase the GSmart i200 integrated with Penthera's mobile broadcast software," said Sam Leinhardt, CEO of Penthera Technologies. "Broadcasters and operators will be impressed by this full-featured, multi-vendor solution which is ready for commercial roll-out."

A mobile broadcast demonstration at the 3GSM World Congress Asia 2006 utilized Penthera's end-to-end, mobile broadcast software suite, Innoxius' mobile broadcast head-end and transmission solution, and Gigabyte's GSmart i200. At the head-end, Innoxius Technologies' hardware is integrated with Penthera's Broadcast Services Platform, a DVB-IPDC-compliant control and services solution which enables such unique services as media casting, interactivity, targeted advertising, and usage tracking. Broadcasters and mobile operators can use this system to develop a range of transaction-based revenue opportunities.

On the mobile client, Gigabyte has integrated Penthera's field-proven mobile client application, Penthera Viewer, along with Siano Mobile Silicon's Mobile Digital TV receiver/demodulator. Penthera Viewer enables mobile devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs and laptops to receive DVB-H- and DAB-IP-based TV, radio and media transmissions through a user-friendly, Virtual Set Top Box on the device. As a multi-platform, multi-OS, multi-bearer, mobile broadcast client solution, Penthera Viewer addresses the needs of broadcasters, manufacturers and operator worldwide.

The GSmart i200 handset will be available starting in the first quarter of 2007 with pricing to be announced at that time, according to the company.

Gigabyte Communications' GSmart i200 DVB-H handset

Gigabyte Communications' GSmart i200 DVB-H handset
Photo: Company