FLO TV, Qualcomm's mobile television unit, announced a partnership with Mophie -- a developer of batteries and other accessories for Apple's iPhone devices -- to create a series of products that will let iPhone and iPod touch users access FLO's live mobile TV subscription service.
The companies expect the products to begin shipping in the first half of 2010; pricing wasn't announced. An antenna and the ability to access FLO's dedicated wireless TV service in the 700-MHz range will be incorporated into Mophie's "juice pack" external rechargeable battery add-on for iPhones.
"We are uniting our vision of advancing mobile TV across a range of devices and platforms with Mophie's unrivaled expertise in designing intelligent cases for Apple users," FLO TV president Bill Stone said in announcing the partnership. "Together, our solution will be a true live mobile TV product available to iPhone and iPod touch users."
AT&T, currently the exclusive service provider for Apple's iPhone, discourages live streaming video over its 3G network. The FLO TV service is delivered over the nationwide Qualcomm-owned network and wireless spectrum, so it wouldn't affect AT&T's network. Meanwhile, the FLO service currently available through certain other AT&T Wireless handsets.
FLO TV provides more than a dozen linear channels with content from ABC, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Adult Swim, CBS, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN, Fox, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, MTV, NBC Nickelodeon and other programmers.
Last fall, FLO TV announced a direct-to-consumer offering with the retail launch of FLO TV Personal Television device, to supplement its distribution agreements with AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
