Audiovox integrates FLO TV service into portable DVD player

Consumer electronics manufacturer Audiovox Corporation and Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) FLO TV mobile broadcast unit introduced the Audiovox 7" Portable DVD Player with FLO TV, enabling on-the-go consumers to view live and time-shifted television content as well as their favorite films. The Audiovox unit boasts a 7-inch diagonal/16x9 wide screen, stereo speakers and a built-in rechargeable battery; available for $199.99 at select Best Buy locations, the device also includes a three-month prepaid FLO TV subscription, giving consumers access to hit primetime shows, live sports, news and children's programming from networks including ESPN, Nickelodeon, CNN and The Disney Channel. The FLO TV service is typically priced at $14.99 per month.

Qualcomm recently said it is in negotiations to divest the FLO TV unit. Speaking on an investor conference call in July, Qualcomm chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs said the company is exploring "a number of alternatives" for FLO TV, including discussions with prospective partners. "It will get done in the next year but I don't think I can be much more specific than that," Jacobs said. "A lot of interesting discussions. It's early days."

Qualcomm first indicated its interest in unloading FLO TV last month during its Uplinq 2010 developer conference in San Diego. At that time, Jacobs explained it was never Qualcomm's intention to become the service provider operating FLO TV, which delivers mobile TV programming to operators like Verizon Wireless and AT&T. He also reiterated previous comments that it is likely the FLO solution will expand beyond its broadcasting focus into a more general data delivery platform for connected devices.

Speaking at the All Things Digital Conference in May, Jacobs admitted consumer adoption of FLO TV has failed to meet Qualcomm's expectations. Talking to Bloomberg a few weeks later, FLO TV president Bill Stone said the service's future hinges on extending its parameters beyond television content into new solutions like electronic magazine delivery. "If it's only mobile TV, we're dissatisfied, we're not happy with it," Stone said. "There are going to be a lot of revenue streams off this service." According to Stone, FLO TV also must expand across a wider selection of handset models, noting that Qualcomm is at work on an add-on antenna-like product that can be attached directly to phones, giving consumers the flexibility to migrate the service from device to device.

For more on the Audiovox 7" Portable DVD Player with FLO TV:
- read this release

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FLO TV: We need more phones, new services to succeed
Qualcomm CEO: FLO TV numbers 'not nearly what we expected'
FLO TV adds interactive features, time-shifted viewing