MobiTV to offer branded iPhone app this summer

MobiTV--a longtime player in the mobile television market--plans to release a version of its service for the iPhone this summer, said Ray DeRenzo, the company's chief marketing officer.

DeRenzo said MobiTV has developed iPhone applications for its partners, including a March Madness service for CBS last month. But, he said, the company decided to wait to offer a MobiTV-branded app until the platform was able to support reoccurring subscription fees (which form the basis of the company's business model) and not just one-time payments. DeRenzo said the new iPhone 3.0 platform--scheduled for availability this summer--supports the reoccurring subscription fees, thus the company's release plans.

MobiTV--which launched mobile TV services years ago, before the advent of 3G networks--earlier this year announced it passed the six-million-subscriber mark. The company's service is available on more than 350 handsets spanning 20 operator networks, and offers content from the likes of NBC, ABC, ESPN, The Disney Channel, CNBC and MSNBC.

For more:
- see this list of the company's TV channels

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