Movies On The Move: Unwired First WIth Wireless Video

Written by Adam Gosling

Tuesday, 06 June 2006

Wireless broadband network operator, Unwired, is teaming up with ReelTime Media in a deal to deliver new release movies over its wireless broadband network. Unwired says the Movies on Demand service should be up and running by the end of October. If so, then Unwired will be the first broadband operator in Australia to offer ReelTime's IPTV and PC Video downloads over its network in Melbourne and Sydney. Unwired customers will have to either purchase a ReelTime set top box for their TV or get software for their computer to gain access to the service. ReelTime and UUnwired will be offering current major film titles from companies such as Sony Pictures, TriStar, Columbia, MGM, Palace Films, Granada, Icon Entertainment and ReelTime's other studio partners. "This is a significant deal for Unwired.  Our customers will be the first to gain access to ReelTime's services in Melbourne and Sydney, and in the future, across Australia via our national WiMAX deployment. "It signals a move towards TV and movies on the PC and reflects the increasing global demand for online video content. The added bonus for the customer is the convenience - they can order and watch the latest movies without leaving home," said Unwired CEO, David Spence. The deal will see the two companies share revenue from sales of the ReelTime service and work together on co-marketing and product pricing. More details on the packages for Unwired customers will be made available at its launch in October. ReelTime Managing Director, John Karantzis, said the company has been seeking to work with broadband providers who have the technology, and most importantly, the network capacity to enable smooth delivery of ReelTime. "Network speed is not the issue for IPTV via ReelTime's push system - it's all about having large amounts of low cost capacity - and this made Unwired a logical choice for us.  It has a robust IP-based network, a growing customer base and most importantly large amounts of network capacity across Australia. We are delighted to be partnering with Unwired, and look forward to the opportunity to offer customers the most convenient access to broadband and IPTV available." ReelTime Media is Australia's first national IPTV licensee with multiple major and independent studios and a broadband delivery capability to both PC and TV, while Unwired operates Australia's biggest wireless broadband business with more than 50,000 customers in Sydney and Melbourne. Unwired's wireless broadband plans range from $29.95 for month for 256 Kbps speeds and 300 MB downloads to $119.95 for 1 Mbps and 12 GB. The company plans to move to the wireless broadband standard, Mobile WiMAX in 2007/2008 which will deliver speeds of at least 2 Mbps. The companies said the movies will be competitive with Video Store pricing. Related news items Ericsson To Build Vodafone HSPA -06/03/2008 Voda Goes In-Store At Myer -26/08/2007 MOTO Q 9h In Australia On Vodafone -16/07/2007 Vodafone HSDPA Stretches To Brisbane -05/07/2007 Voda Phone For Fleet Buyers -29/05/2007 Newer news items Malaysian Telco Orders Ericsson Mobile TV Solution -21/06/2006 Nokia Demos 3.6 Mbps 3G Broadband -19/06/2006 Nokia, Siemens Merge Divisions -19/06/2006 UPDATED: Wagga Wagga Gets Wireless Broadband -07/06/2006 BigAir Buys $600 Grand In Revenues -06/06/2006 Older news items Mobile Phones Leading Convergence Charge: IDC -01/06/2006 Primus Offers Optus Mobile -01/06/2006 Unwired Signs Fairfax For Location-Based Content -31/05/2006 3 Australia Reaches 1 Million 3G Milestone -31/05/2006 Vodafone Reveals Strong Aussie Growth -31/05/2006 Tag This Now: