In order to boost its solutions portfolio in the DVB-SH market, Alcatel-Lucent has entered into a joint venture with Quantum, a supplier of mobile multimedia devices and software.

The companies' stated objective for the cooperation is to develop terrestrial or hybrid (terrestrial and satellite) mobile broadcast solutions adhering to the new DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handhelds) mobile broadcast standard. This cooperation is intended to allow both companies to develop new mobile TV business opportunities related to mobile TV access worldwide on Portable Multimedia Players (PMP), and Automotive digital set-top boxes.

"Quantum is dedicated to the future of Mobile TV and seamless multimedia mobility," declared Stefano Martini, CEO of Quantum SpA. "Leveraging the power of the open DVB-SH mobile broadcast standard, our new cooperation with Alcatel-Lucent for mass market Mobile TV will allow us to further extend ...the software that brings together unique applications through the convergence of Mobile TV, the internet and location based technologies into a single personal device."

"In-car multimedia entertainment, portable devices with larger screens and navigation services are key drivers to accelerate the advent of mass market mobile TV, by providing end-users with a mobile TV experience that complements their traditional TV experience," added Olivier Coste, Chairman of Alcatel-Lucent's mobile broadcast activities.

"It is important to have more partners joining the DVB-SH industrial ecosystem. Teaming up for DVB-SH with an innovative player such as Quantum SpA, which already has an extended knowledge of an early adopter broadcast mobile TV market such as Italy, will strengthen the reach of our Unlimited Mobile TV solution towards the mass market worldwide."