Unleash your creativity and show your skills. Take a good look around. What kind of internet services are you interested in and, in particular, how could you improve them by utilizing unique TeliaSonera features?
TeliaSonera has developed a set of service APIs (API = application programming interface), which open new ways for combining the Internet and the mobile world. These will help you to think differently about communication and create something unique. Pre-registration is already open and the competition starts on April 1, 2009.
Read more about Innovation World Challenge.
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TeliaSonera Finland introduces Mobile TV and other new 3G services, Mar 27, 2006
TeliaSonera Finland is launching new, innovative, and easy to use mobile TV service ("MobiiliTV") on April 1st among with mobile music service ("Musiikkilataamo") and video calls. The Mobile TV service is based on a platform developed in TeliaSonera MediaLab. The platform provides complete, versatile market place for content providers such as broadcasters enabling delivery of media content to end-users. Supported media types include live TV and radio feeds as well as video-on-demand (VoD) content. Content can be packaged and sold to end-users in several ways as the platforms supports pay-per-view and subscription based business models. All content fees are charged on the subscriber's monthly phone bill.
With the Mobile TV service, Sonera customers can watch all programs of the channel Nelonen, TV news broadcasts of YLE, The Voice 24h Music-TV channel as well as news and current affairs programs of MTV3. New content providers are expected to join the service in the near future.
Read more from press release (PDF)
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Live TV feed from Torino Games to Sonera mobile subscribers - Feb 3, 2006
Sonera’s Torino Results Service provides information and brings the atmosphere of the Winter Olympics live to Sonera customers’ mobile phones. Sonera will carry all of YLE’s (Finnish Broadcasting Company) Games broadcasts with exclusive right from the YLE TV1, YLE TV2 and YLE24 TV channels live on the mobile network. The service is available only to Sonera customers.
The television broadcasts will amount to about 330 hours during the Games. In addition to live TV broadcasts, the Torino Results Service will provide on-demand video collages of YLE’s broadcasts. The service operates on most phones provided with Sonera’s GPRS, EDGE or 3G service and Real Player, such as all Nokia Series 60 phones. Watching the broadcasts fits every pocket, as all Sonera data transmission services can be used in Finland for only €1 a week until the end of the Torino Games on February 26, 2006.
Optimum end-user experience is guaranteed with an advanced device and network based adaptation. The user will always get video feed which is optimally suited to the specific mobile phone and underlying network. This is a key development in enhancing the usability of browser based mobile multimedia services. Video feeds are protected by an authorization solution developed at TeliaSonera Finland MediaLab.
Download the press release in PDF format
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New stream testing tools for 3G networks - Dec 28, 2004
TeliaSonera Finland's MediaLab has developed new testing tools for measuring and analyzing streaming performance. The tester for GPRS networks released in the spring (click to read news) can now be used also on EDGE and W-CDMA networks. Operators can use the tool to optimize and fine tune their networks. Also, service and technology development can gain great benefits from a thorough understanding of streaming traffic behavior under various network conditions. For more information, download and read the Testing Streaming in Mobile Networks White Paper.
The downstream tester simulates a situation where streaming content is sent from a server to the user's phone. Corresponding software for testing upstream traffic has also been developed at MediaLab. It can be used to simulate "see-what-I-see" type applications where for example video is streamed from the user's phone onto the network.
A short demo video illustrating the use of the downstream tester in a W-CDMA network is now available in RealVideo and Windows Media formats.
If you are interested in the stream testing tools, please contact us at 
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Operator phones and operator content strategies - Nov 18, 2004
MediaLab's presentation "Segmenting The Market: How Operators’ Branded Handsets Have Evolved" from Mobile Outsourcing 2004 Conference is now available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics: TeliaSonera in brief, TeliaSonera's proportional number of mobile customers, ecosystem of mobile services, ecosystem examples: DoCoMo i-mode and European GPRS content services, vertical services and examples: WAP, Symbian OS applications, MMS, change towards more operator control, operator, co-branded and software customized phones, value web for (vendor) phones 2002, value web for operator phones 2005, operator phones with pre-configured services, why do operators want operator phones?, disadvantages of operator (subsidized) phones, Orange Signature phones, some operator, co-branded and software customized phones, market segmentation and operator phones, example of market segmentation, Nokia’s mobile phone style/function matrix, example of customer segmentation: DoCoMo F671i "raku-raku" phone, mobile content value chain, regulation and the mobile content value chain, environments for 3rd party content services: walled gardens, semi-walled gardens, open Internet, zed and content value chain, DoCoMo and content value chain, TeliaSonera Finland and content value chain, Vodafone UK and content value chain, Orange UK and content value chain, 3 and content value chain, global smart phone market (Apr-Jun, 2004), Nokia’s Symbian strategy, Series60 for operators, need for intelligent operator middleware, operator alliances: Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP), software customized Sonera phone, TeliaSonera and easier service setup for phones, Sonera Menu application, mobile content services at TeliaSonera, Sonera Plaza menu , TeliaSonera Finland’s content revenue sharing model, and summary.
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Mobile TV pilot kicks off in Finland - Oct 15, 2004
A joint coalition of Finnish broadcasters, telecom operators, network operators and device vendors are today kicking off a mobile TV pilot within the Helsinki metropolitan area, covering an area of approximately 150 square kilometers. Both indoor and outdoor coverage should be available within that area.
Although IPDC (IP Datacasting) can be used to deliver any kind of IP data - files, applications, information - only A/V streaming services are included in this pilot. The intention is to gather information about consumer interest for TV-like services for mobile devices and the consumers' willingness to pay for them.
The first phase starting now will be taken part by 120 friendly users who will access the services using the Nokia 7700 media terminal. The second phase will start on February 1, 2005. In that phase 500 regular consumers will use TV-like services and pay for them.
The IPDC/DVB-H concept has been met with great enthusiasm worldwide, and trials and pilots will be seen in many countries and run by numerous companies in 2005. For example, NTL announced at IBC that it is to link up with UK cellular operator O2 for a large scale commercial trial of DVB-H in Oxford. The Houston based Crown Castle has stated their intention to establish a nationwide DVB-H network in the United States.
There are also plans to launch a trial network in Sydney, Australia in December 2004.
Related links: Nokia 7700 devices, Nokia's IP datacasting pages, Berlin pilot, DVB Project, IPDC Forum, Crown Castle.
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Sonera opens its 3G network bringing video services to consumers - Oct 13, 2004
TeliaSonera Finland has today opened its UMTS network, bringing high quality video streaming services to its 3G subscribers. The content, including for example the CNN International news channel, entertainment, and music videos, is delivered through the the "Videopalvelut" section of the Sonera Plaza portal. Also, on-demand news clips by the Finnish Broadcasting Company are now linked for Sonera 3G subscribers for easy access. Users are charged for transferred data according to current tariffs (see the press release below) with no additional content fees applied. Click to read the full text of the press release.
All videos are offered in 3GPP format. Additionally, the CNN International live stream can be viewed in RealVideo format for optimal quality on terminals featuring the RealPlayer for Mobile player. The bitrates used are up to 102 kbps, providing unforeseen video quality in mobile terminals. Access to premium content is limited to Sonera subscribers only, and protected by an authorization solution developed at TeliaSonera Finland MediaLab.
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Streaming and Broadcasting Services for Mobile Handsets - Sep 6, 2004
MediaLab's presentation "Streaming and Broadcasting Services for Mobile Handsets" from Mobile Device Developments 2004 Conference is now available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
TeliaSonera in brief,
TeliaSonera's number of mobile customers worldwide,
TeliaSonera Finland’s MediaLab,
operators’ plans for streaming services,
global mobile service revenues 2003-2008,
mobile video service revenues in Western Europe 2003-2007,
definitions for streaming, broadcasting, datacasting,
video delivery methods for mobile phones today,
example of streaming with downloading,
demo: pre-downloaded video content,
mobile video components and interoperability,
streaming file formats and codecs,
MPEG-4 mobile licencing,
Packet Switched Streaming (PSS),
mobile streaming roadmap (3GPP PSS),
mobile broadcasting,
mobile broadcasting roadmap,
mobile streaming technology providers,
generic mobile streaming platform,
TeliaSonera’s streaming platform,
ecosystem of mobile (video) services,
requirements for good streaming handsets,
streaming requirements for networks,
streaming tester architecture,
streaming problems today,
encoding recommendations,
demo: video quality,
schedule for video services,
video MMS,
video clip download,
video streaming,
video calls,
video broadcasting,
Finpilot: video broadcasting trial,
DVB-H video content service,
demo: video service over DVB-H,
mobile services at TeliaSonera,
mobile video services at TeliaSonera,
music video services at Sonera Plaza,
video service statistics,
content and packet fees at Sonera Plaza,
TeliaSonera Finland’s content revenue sharing model,
enabler: content based billing,
content based billing: regulation problem,
enabler: mobile digital rights management (DRM),
and summary.
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Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service White Paper - Aug 23, 2004
A white paper on MBMS technology is now available for download in PDF format.
MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) is a broadcasting service that
can be offered via existing GSM and UMTS cellular networks. The
infrastructure offers an option to use an uplink channel for interaction between the service and the user, which is not a straightforward
issue in usual broadcast networks, as for example conventional digital television is only a one-way (unicast) system.
MBMS has been standardized in various groups of 3GPP (Third Generation
Partnership Project), and the first phase standards are to be finalized
for UMTS release 6. As Release 6 will be ready by the 3rd quarter
of 2004, practical network implementations may be expected by the end of 2007, and the first functional mobile terminals supporting MBMS
are estimated to be available by the end of 2008.
This white paper describes the MBMS architecture, network and terminal
requirements, broadcast and multicast modes and some
potential applications. The paper also compares MBMS to other potential
methods for mobile mass communications such as DVB-H (Digital Video
Broadcast, Handheld), and discusses the role of MBMS in the future.
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MPEG-4 White Paper - Aug 20, 2004
A white paper on MPEG-4 is now available for download in PDF format.
MPEG-4 is a standard for storing and delivering multimedia content first designed as a successor for the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 standards. The
original goal was to make a standard for low bit rate applications as
the earlier standards already covered high bit rate applications, but MPEG-4 was later expanded into a standard dealing with high compression
ratios covering both low and high bitrates.
This white paper provides an overview of the MPEG-4 standard, the technologies
and tools it offers, and a look at the licensing fees.
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Web Content Adaptation White Paper - Aug 13, 2004
A white paper on web content adaptation is now available for download in PDF format.
Content adaptation stands for a process of selection, generation or
modification of content to suit a user's computing environment and
usage context. This white paper gives an overview of content adaptation and
introduces technologies that can be used when adapting content for
heterogeneous devices in Web and WAP environments. The topics covered include:
content negotiation, client device detection, device capability and
preference profiles, content adaptation for mobile phones, authoring
techniques for adaptation, and examples of content adaptation systems.
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Assembly '04 event to kick off for 13th time - Aug 4, 2004
The biggest event in the world for young computer enthusiasts, Assembly '04 kicks off for the thirteenth time on Thursday, August 5, 2004. Over 5 000 participants from over 20 countries are expected to take part in the event which focuses on the demo and gaming scenes.
Assembly takes place at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland for four non-stop days with competitions in over 20 different categories and prizes worth 35 000 euros. The main speaker at the ArtTech seminars is game designer David Fox (USA) who has been with LucasArts for over 20 years. Also coming is Jeff Minter (UK), the founder of Llamasoft and a veteran of the gaming industry.
The event even has its own television channel, AssemblyTV, which can be seen over the weekend on the Helsinki cable television network, on Finnish terrestrial digital TV on the Estradi channel and around the world on the Internet. In 2003, AssemblyTV was seen by 200,000 viewers of which approximately 30% were outside of Finland. AssemblyTV is run by a group of 70 young enthusiasts with responsibilities ranging from studio work to broadacasting.
TeliaSonera is once again Assembly's main partner in making the AssemblyTV broadcast available on the Internet with increased capacity. The broadcast is available in Real media format in the networks of all major Internet service providers. In addition to the webcast, TeliaSonera is responsible for the multicast at Hartwall Areena, and mobile connections to GPRS, UMTS and 3G networks.
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Streaming in Mobile Networks White Paper - Jul 15, 2004
A white paper introducing the principles of streaming in mobile networks is now available for download in PDF format.
The mobile phones of today have enough computing capacity, memory, and multimedia features for advanced multimedia applications such as playing audio-visual content. These features, together with packet-switched data services provided by GPRS, EDGE, and WCDMA networks and advanced compression algorithms have made streaming of audio-visual content to mobile phones possible.
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Testing Streaming in Mobile Networks White Paper - Jul 2, 2004
A white paper on testing streaming on mobile networks is now available for download in PDF format.
Testing the quality and performance of streaming services in mobile
networks often requires special software, since mobile streaming media
players do not provide enough internal statistics.
This white paper provides an overview of the Streaming Tester application
created at TeliaSonera Finland's MediaLab. It also presents results
and conclusions on streaming on GPRS networks based on test
data gathered on three mobile networks. When 3G Symbian mobile phones
become available, this valuable tool can also be used for testing
streaming on 3G networks.
Streaming Tester consists of three parts: the server running on Linux,
the client running on Symbian and Windows, and the log converter running on the Windows
platform. If you are interested in hearing more about the Streaming Tester,
contact us at .
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Mobile Device Developments Conference 2004 - Jun 28, 2004
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Sonera brings CNN TV to its mobile customers - Jun 23, 2004
Sonera is launching the 24-hour CNN TV news channel for mobile phone users in Finland. With this service, Sonera's mobile subscribers will be able to watch CNN's TV programs, such as world news, international business and sport news, as well as talk shows, live on their mobile devices. The CNN channel will be streamed to 3GPP compliant devices from the award-winning Sonera Live platform using 20 kbps (for GPRS users) and 50 kbps (for EDGE users) bitrates. CNN is Sonera's first content service specifically adapted for EDGE terminals. The service will be available to Sonera customers immediately. Read the full press release in PDF format.
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Sonera brings live trotting webcast to mobile subscribers - Jun 1, 2004
Sonera has brought out a new service, TotoRadio, for its mobile subscribers
together with Fintoto Ltd. Customers can access the streaming audio channel on the Sonera Plaza mobile portal on phones with the RealOne mobile player installed.
The streaming audio service has been implemented using Sonera's award-winning
Sonera Live streaming platform, including stream delivery, capturing and
encoding of the satellite feed, as well as integrating authentication to the
streams through the Sonera Plaza mobile portal.
For now, no connection or monthly charges are imposed for the use of the
TotoRadio service, only a data transfer charge will be collected.
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Sonera brings National Geographic to broadband subscribers - May 26, 2004
Sonera has brought out National
Geographic Channel through its streamed video services at the
Sonera Plaza portal. NG is part of a service package for Sonera's Internet broadband subscribers also featuring the CNN International news channel. The package covering both CNN and NG costs 3,90 EUR/month. The National Geographic Channel will now replace the MTV Live broadband channel previously offered in the package.
The streaming infrastructure for the service includes the capturing and
encoding of the satellite feed at 360 kbps using RealVideo 10,
integration of authorization to the streams through the authentication services at the Sonera Plaza portal, as well as the distribution of streams via Sonera Live streaming servers.
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Enabling and Accelerating Mobile Content Business with DRM - May 24, 2004
MediaLab's presentation "Enabling and Accelerating Mobile Content Business with Digital Rights Management (DRM)" from Nokia Customer VAS Forum 2004 in Helsinki on May 18-19, 2004 is now available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
TeliaSonera in brief,
TeliaSonera's mobile customer base,
global mobile content revenues,
mobile content market in Finland,
definition for Digital Rights Management,
DRM reference architecture,
typical DRM system components,
what DRM enables,
P2P superdistribution,
mobile DRM requirements,
example of DRM deployment,
DRM use cases,
mobile DRM roadmap,
Nokia closed content type list v2.0,
OMA DRM R1,
Series 40, 60 and 90 support for OMA DRM R1,
OMA DRM R1 separate delivery in practice,
OMA DRM deployment options,
example of OMA DRM R1 server: Nokia DLS 2.0, OMA DRM R2,
Content Management Licensing Authority,
DRM and mobile content value chain,
DRM's benefits in content value chain,
DRM's effectiveness in content value chain,
example: DRM in broadband content delivery,
example: DRM provision for mobile content,
DRM and convergence of devices,
DRM market development,
Sonera Plaza mobile portal: Wap, Java and Symbian games,
music and video pilot,
some 2.5G content fees,
TeliaSonera Finland’s content revenue sharing model,
and summary.
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Updated video quality demos available - May 5, 2004
MediaLab now offers updated video quality demos boosted with the new RealVideo 10 codec. More information about RealVideo 10 and RealAudio 10 is available at the RealNetworks website.
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TeliaSonera Finland introduces Sony Personal Music Assistant - Mar 17, 2004
TeliaSonera Finland and Sony Network Services announced today the launch of the world's first mobile music streaming service. The service, which offers instant mobile access to music and allows the user to listen to personalised music selections independently of time and place, will be introduced to customers in the second quarter of 2004. Read the full press release in PDF format.
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TeliaSonera Sweden opens 3G network with streamed video content - Mar 10, 2004
TeliaSonera Sweden opened its UMTS network and brought video streaming and download services to its 3G subscribers. Downloadable content is available to 2,5G and 3G networks while streaming is only available for 3G networks. End users are charged for fixed price per clip and no additional data transfer fees are applied. Content is offered to Telia mobile subscribers through the TeliaGo! mobile portal. Content offering includes daily news, weather forecast, and material from the Eurovision song contest. Click to read the full text of the press release.
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TeliaSonera Finland brings mobile video services to GPRS devices - Feb 16, 2004
TeliaSonera Finland has published mobile video services ("Video palvelut") in the Sonera Plaza mobile portal. Sonera's mobile customers can watch video content such as sports, comedy, music videos, and artist interviews on their mobile phones. The women's channel Ellit is also offering video content such as beauty tips. The service is only available for Sonera's mobile subscribers with a GPRS capable mobile phone with RealONE mobile player to view the content. Users are charged for the traffic, but there is no content fee.
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TeliaSonera to use Helix platform for mobile multimedia - Jan 26, 2004
TeliaSonera has selected RealNetworks’ Helix platform to power the streaming services for its mobile and broadband customers. The Helix Mobile Solutions platform enables TeliaSonera to provide its subscribers in Finland and Sweden with easy-to-use live and on-demand Internet audio and video content which are key components in the new mobile market. Read the press release for further information.
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"Beauty school" video clips for broadband and mobile customers - Jan 7, 2004
TeliaSonera has launched together with Lumene a new concept, beauty school, targeted for female customers in Finland. The concept consists of beauty care tips, product information, articles, and videos available for mobile and broadband customers. The service is offered through the Sonera Plaza web portal and Sonera's WAP portal for mobile subscribers. For example, customers with Nokia 7650, 3650 and N-Gage devices can view short video clips providing makeup tips in a handy, easy to use manner. The beauty school is part of the Sonera Plaza Ellit -channel for female readers.
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Commercial pilot of mobile broadcasting launched in Finland - Dec 15, 2003
Leading Finnish broadcast, content and mobile communications companies Digita, MTV, Nelonen, Nokia, Radiolinja, TeliaSonera Finland and YLE have signed an agreement to start pilot testing a commercial broadcast service to mobile devices. The aim of the pilot is to gain experience about real end-user acceptance for TV-like mobile broadcasting services. Read the press release in PDF format.
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TeliaSonera launches annual Christmas charity campaign - Dec 1, 2003
For the second year now, TeliaSonera Finland publishes in co-operation with the Santa Claus Foundation an annual charity campaign helping the underprivileged children of the world.
The cross media campaign "Tähti Lapselle" ("A Star for a Child") features a combination of a 3D animated television programme and SMS chat messages which viewers can send to contribute to a good cause. The show is broadcast on the national TV channel Nelonen (Channel 4), with an Internet stream for broadband customers also available.
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Packet Switched Streaming Service White Paper - Nov 19, 2003
A white paper on mobile packet switched streaming service (PSS) is now available for download in PDF format.
Streaming is a method for transferring data with real-time characteristics so that the recipient can start viewing the presentation before the entire contents have been transmitted. Currently, streaming is typically used in broadband Internet audio and video transmissions, but it is becoming feasible also in mobile networks.
This white paper provides an overview of transparent end-to-end packet switched streaming service (PSS), which is a 3GPP specification defining a framework for an interoperable streaming service in mobile networks.
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Video Services over GPRS Networks - Oct 29, 2003
MediaLab's presentation
"Insight into Lessons Learned with Video Services over GPRS Networks" from
GPRS Content 2003 Conference
is now available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
TeliaSonera in brief, telecommunications in Nordic and Baltic countries,
SMS, WAP and MMS markets in Finland, top mobile content services in Finland,
global mobile service revenues, operators' plans for streaming services,
wireless streaming revenues 2003-2008, ecosystem of mobile services,
examples of ecosystem: DoCoMo i-mode, European GPRS video services,
first mobile video services, video MMS, video clip downloads, video streaming,
video calls, definition for streaming, downloading vs. progressive downloading vs. streaming, DoCoMo Mstage music: example of a streaming and downloading service,
mobile video componenets and interoperability, current mobile video codecs,
file formats and codecs, 3GPP's packet switched streaming (PSS) standard,
3GPP PSS roadmap, some video capable phones, mobile streaming platform,
mobile streaming technology providers, streaming video quality over GPRS today,
problems with streaming mobile video today, towards 3G quality and services,
Sonera Colour and some of its services, Sonera Colour's mobile music and video service,
streaming pilot usage statistics, TeliaSonera’s content revenue sharing model,
some 2.5G service fees, enablers for video serivices: content based billing
and mobile digital rights management (DRM), OMA DRM release 1.0, and summary.
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MPEG-7 White Paper - Oct 15, 2003
A white paper on MPEG-7 is now available for download in PDF format.
MPEG-7 is a standard for describing the features of audiovisual content so users can search, browse, and retrieve that content efficiently. The white paper describes the characteristics and main components of the standard, use scenarios, MPEG-7 related forums and consortiums, and some alternative metadata models. The paper also introduces MPEG-7 powered applications from IBM, Ricoh, Canon, Singingfish, Musicline, and Mitsubishi.
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Developing Content Services and Applications for Smartphones - Oct 6, 2003
MediaLab's presentation
"Developing Content Services and Applications for Symbian Smartphones on 2.5G+ Networks" from
Mobile Device Developments 2003 Conference
on Oct 1-2, 2003 in London is now
available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
TeliaSonera in brief,
telecommunications in Nordic and Baltic countries,
SMS, WAP and MMS markets in Finland,
top mobile content services in Finland,
ecosystem of mobile services,
examples of ecosystem: DoCoMo i-mode and European GPRS content services,
evolution of mobile devices,
wireless device shipments 2002-2007 (worldwide, units),
smart phone application platforms,
Microsoft Smartphone OS,
Symbian OS,
Symbian and Java MIDP application development,
many service user interfaces,
choosing best functionality or compatibility for mobile content services,
best functionality and different UIs,
multi-channel content publishing,
evolution of content formats,
global mobile service revenues,
differencies in downloading and streaming,
mobile streaming platform,
video quality over GPRS today,
problems with streaming mobile video today,
Mstage music - World’ first mobile music service,
Sonera Colour,
Sonera Colour example services: news application,
wap, Java and Symbian games,
mobile music and video service,
hockey league, women’s channel, auctions, weather webcams,
map searchs, newspapers, financial news, yellow pages,
TeliaSonera’s content revenue sharing model,
some 2.5G service fees,
enabler: mobile digital rights management (DRM),
OMA DRM R1.0,
a future DRM service.
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Mobile Digital Rights Management (MDRM) White Paper - Aug 8, 2003
A white paper on Mobile Digital Rights Management is now available for download in PDF format.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a technology that protects content owner rights when selling and distributing the content online in a digital form. DRM also introduces new ways of selling, distributing and consuming content that can be considered as important as the prevention of piracy. In this paper, the current DRM status in mobile devices is briefly discussed, the ongoing standardization efforts are covered with emphasis on Open Mobile Alliance work, and futute directions for Mobile DRM systems are outlined.
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Challenges for the Future Mobile Operator Consumer Business - Jul 2, 2003
MediaLab's presentation
"Challenges for the Future Mobile Operator Consumer Business"
held at the mBusiness 2003
conference in Vienna on Jun 23-24, 2003 is now
available for download in PDF format.
The presentation includes the following topics: TeliaSonera in brief, telecommunications in Nordic and Baltic countries, basic communications, telecommunications consumer market trends, telecommunications market growth, SMS, WAP and MMS markets in Finland, top mobile content services in Finland, ecosystem for mobile services, ecosystem examples: DoCoMo i-mode and European GPRS content services, evolution of mobile networks, evolution of content formats, evolution of mobile devices, wireless device shipments, smart phone application platforms, convergence and mobile Internet services, mobile operators and value chain, value chain examples: DoCoMo i-mode, zed and Sonera, Sonera's content revenue sharing model, service-based vs. volume-based business models, and summary.
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IP Datacasting Content Services White Paper - May 13, 2003
A white paper on IP Datacasting Content Services is now available for download in PDF format.
IP datacasting (IPDC) is a technology used in DVB and DAB broadcasting networks to deliver IP based audio, video, data, graphics and other broadband information directly to end users, whether at home, at work, or on the move. The potential applications range from entertainment to information and business services. Using IPDC, data services can be broadcast simultaneously to a large number of users ("point-to-multipoint"). Transmissions are unidirectional, but another access network can be used as a return or interaction channel.
The white paper describes a generic IPDC architecture framework and introduces the parties involved in the content value chain. Digital Rights Management (DRM) is also discussed. The paper covers a content and service pilot implemented in the Finnish IPDC trial network and briefly discusses the experiences of early adopters who tested the streaming pilot services. In conclusion, a SWOT analysis for IPDC technology is presented.
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Sonera brings live trotting webcast to broadband subscribers - May 1, 2003
Sonera has brought out a new pay-per-view service, TotoTV, for its broadband Internet customers together with Fintoto Ltd. The customers can access the streamed video trotting channel on Sonera Plaza, the leading Finnish Internet portal.
The streaming video service on TotoTV has been implemented using Sonera's streaming platform, including stream delivery, capturing and encoding of the satellite feed, as well as integrating authentication to the streams through the Sonera Plaza portal. Customers can pay for the service by sending an SMS message with a mobile phone. The service also incorporates a betting capability, providing a whole new aspect for gambling on the Internet.
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Sonera launches a mobile video pilot - Mar 26, 2003
Sonera's new mobile video pilot offers Sonera's customers the opportunity to view a selection of video material on their mobile phones. The videos are produced by Sonera Plaza, and the MTV3 and Nelonen television channels. The content of the video clips range from Sonera Plaza's Kaista entertainment service's music videos to MTV3's morning news and Nelonen's 4Pop popular culture magazine, to name a few.
The videos can be watched on Nokia's 3650 phone or other mobiles that have RealOne Player installed. To view the videos, access "http://wap.sonera.net" on your phone. The videos are encoded at 22 kbps.
You can also watch two video clips on your PC that demonstrate the video quality: news and music.
The pilot is available to all Sonera mobile phone customers free of charge until 31 May 2003. For more detailed information about the pilot, read the press release. Also available are instructions to set your phone's APN settings.
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Developing Services and Applications for 2.5G and 3G Devices - Mar 9, 2003
MediaLab's presentation
"Developing Services and Applications for 2.5G and 3G Devices"
held at the Workshop on Internet Usage over 2.5G and 3G
in Barcelona on Mar 6-7, 2002 is now
available for download in PDF format.
The presentation includes the following topics: evolution of mobile networks, devices and applications, ecosystem for mobile services, current mobile devices, wireless device shipments 2002-2006 (worldwide, units), Symbian and Smartphone OS, Sonera's first 2.5G/3G Services Nokia-Sonera 3G launch on Sep 26, 2002, location based services, news application, Java and Symbian games, mobile music and video service, 2.5G/3G service fees, towards multi-access portals, service user interfaces, problems with web content, evolution of mark-up languages, towards mobile video applications,
streaming and downloading, Packet Switched Streaming - 3GPP's first streaming standard, video content formats, mobile streaming technology providers, mobile video quality today, mobile streaming platform, problems with mobile video,
Digital Rights Management (DRM), content business and need for mobile DRM,
OMA DRM v1.0 - Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA) specification,
mobile DRM and superdistribution, and summary.
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Sonera to offer streaming videos to mobile phones - Feb 27, 2003
Sonera is launching new mobile services that incorporate familiar Internet services in mobile phones. Among them is Kaista, a service that offers news on music and movies, interviews, video streaming, and a lot more. The mobile Kaista pages can be accessed with a WAP enabled mobile phone at the address "http://wap.kaista.net".
The streaming videos, encoded at 22 kbps quality, can be viewed on Nokia 7650 mobile phones that have the RealOne Mobile player installed, and the newly released Nokia 3650 that has the software installed as a standard feature.
To download RealOne Mobile on your 7650 and view some sample clips, pay a visit to MediaLab's 7650 specific demo pages.
Also available is the full press release in PDF format.
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MediaLab introduces new Multimedia Messaging Jukebox - Feb 7, 2003
MediaLab rolled out the new and improved MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) Jukebox at the annual Sonera Future event on February 5, 2003. Users of the service are able to send a picture to be displayed on the jukebox screen via MMS, along with their song wish.
The MMS Jukebox runs on a standalone laptop set up with an MMS capable phone. Version 1.0 of the software features the abilility to display pictures sent from MMS capable phones, display music videos of the songs when no sent pictures are queued, a voting engine for the music videos based on the received SMS and MMS messages, a SMS and MMS chat, and dynamic Top 30 video list generation.
View a screenshot of the MMS Jukebox displayed with some pictures taken at Sonera
Future, attended by over 300 students at the University of Tampere and the Tampere University of Technology.
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Symbian OS Application Development White Paper - Jan 28, 2003
Many new mobile phones are able to run downloaded Java programs or native applications developed for the device's own operating system. Java applications are more portable among different operating systems, but they also have many limitations. If access to the device's hardware capabilities, operating system or other built-in software or data, or maximum performance is needed, the use of native applications is a must. Examples of these applications include games, some communications applications, and applications that make use of special hardware such as a built-in digital camera.
This white paper discusses native application development for Symbian OS,
an open, standard operating system for data-enabled phones, such as the Nokia 7650,
3650 and N-Gage phones, and the Sony Ericsson P800. You can download it here.
The demo application for the Nokia 7650 described in the white paper
can be downloaded here. To install the application over the air, please visit MediaLab's WAP pages with your phone at wap.medialab.sonera.fi.
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USIX final seminar in Helsinki in January 2003 - Dec 31, 2002
The USIX program (User-Oriented Information Technology) of the Finnish National Technology Agency (Tekes) will have its final seminar in Helsinki on January 28, 2003. MediaLab will present the results of the Plaza Future User Interface project in the seminar. For more information, please see the program (in Finnish). The seminar is free of charge and you can enroll here.
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Presentation on Mobile Video - Nov 20, 2002
"Overcoming the Technical Challenges for Mobile Video and Multimedia"
presented at IBC's
2nd Mobile Imaging & Video conference
in London on Nov 14-15, 2002 is now
available for download in PDF format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
3G and video at Sonera,
developing multimedia content services for mobile devices,
ecosystem for mobile services,
mobile video applications,
mobile network technologies,
video on 2.5G networks,
current mobile devices,
wireless device shipments 2002-2006,
Symbian and Smartphone OS,
downloading and/or streaming,
3GPP packet switched streaming,
video content formats,
Sonera's Internet streaming platform,
mobile streaming platform,
future portals,
comparison of mobile streaming technology providers,
DRM for mobile content,
future mobile DRM platform,
mobile DRM and superdistribution,
and summary.
You can watch also the related video clip Just Another Saturday, presented at Nokia and Sonera's joint 3G press event on September 26, 2002.
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Sonera to roll out improved mobile gaming offering - Nov 18, 2002
Sonera is updating its mobile entertainment offering on the Web. Among the improvements is an all new eDome website devoted for mobile gaming with downloadable Java games for selected Nokia phones. Visit the mobile arcade and try the games out.
For further information, read the press release (in Finnish only). Also check out the related MediaLab news on mobile Java application development.
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Mobile Search Engines White Paper available for download - Nov 18, 2002
You can also visit the MediaLab MobileSearch pilot
site and search the Web with your PDA, WAP phone or i-mode phone, try out
handheld emulators on your desktop computer or watch streaming videos
demonstrating the use of the MobileSearch on a PDA and a WAP phone.
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Presentation on Future of Comms Devices and Customer Interfaces - Oct 28, 2002
MediaLab's presentation
"The Future of Comms Devices and Customer Interfaces"
at IIR's
5th European ISP Forum
in Amsterdam on Oct 22-24, 2002 is now
available for download in pdf format.
The presentation covers the following topics:
global mobile service revenues, ecosystem for mobile services, evolution of mobile networks,
evolution of mobile applications, evolution of mobile devices, future personal device,
current mobile devices, wireless device shipments 2002-2006 (worldwide, units),
Symbian, Smartphone OS, Symbian and Smartphone OS user interface,
Internet portals and new devices, how mobile vevices will be sold: market segmentation,
example of market segmentation, examples of device segmentation,
focus areas in Sonera’s strategy, MyLife - Sonera's strategy for consumer market,
and conclusions.
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Presentation on Mobile Content Services in Japan - Oct 16, 2002
MediaLab's presentation
"Business and Revenue Sharing Models for Mobile 3G Content Services in Japan"
at MarcusEvans'
Interactive Entertainment Forum
in Copenhagen on Oct 14-15, 2002 is now
available for download in pdf format.
The presentation covers the following topics: global mobile service revenues, mobile services in Europe and Japan, Nokia-Sonera 3G launch, Mobile network technologies, 3G launches in Japan, mobile Internet subscribers in Japan, mobile Internet services in Japan, i-mode, i-mode history,
i-mode’s content revenue sharing model, business models for content providers in Japan, i-mode’s positive feedback loop, official i-mode menu traffic,
i-mode ARPU, i-mode and media value chain, European mobile portals and media value chain, i-mode outside Japan, FOMA, FOMA terminals, reported FOMA problems,
i-motion, i-motion applications, i-motion’s delivery patterns, FOMA charges, i-motion charges, FOMA deployment plan, and lessons to be learned in Europe.
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Nokia 7650 streaming demos available - Oct 4, 2002
Streaming demos for the Nokia 7650 mobile phone are now available in our demo section. The video clips have been encoded at 22 kbps, a suitable rate for current GSM high-speed data and GPRS networks. You can view the demos on a Nokia 7650 with RealOne Player Mobile, or view simulations and recorded video clips on your PC using RealOne Player.
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MediaLab offers a preview of Windows Media 9 content - Sep 17, 2002
Sonera MediaLab offers a preview of sample content encoded for the new Microsoft streaming technology released for public beta on September 4, 2002. For more information about the Windows Media 9 experience, visit Microsoft's Windows Media website.
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Mobile Java Application Development White Paper - Sep 12, 2002
A white paper on Mobile Java Application Development is now available for download. As many new mobile phones are able to download Java software over the air and run it on the device, new possibilities for creating applications that can be charged for such as games are emerging. This white paper discusses developing applications for MIDP (Mobile Information Device Profile) version 1.0, widely supported by many mobile phone manufacturers.
An example of an MIDP application created at Sonera MediaLab, view a demo of the classic Moon Lander game being played on a Nokia 7650.
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IP Datacast pilot network launched - Sep 10, 2002
RTT Oy, a non-profit institution owned by Nokia, Sonera, Teleste, the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yleisradio, and the National Technology Agency Tekes, has launched an IP datacasting (IPDC) test network in Helsinki that will allow high speed transfer of IP data to mobile terminals using digital television technology. Sonera and Sonera MediaLab are active participants in the project.
For a closer look into the technology, read the RTT press release and IPDC technology overview (in PDF format). Also, you can try out a simulation of an IPDC broadcast (Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player required).
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IBC's Mobile Imaging & Video Conference - Aug 26, 2002
MediaLab will give a presentation titled "Key Learnings in Mobile Video" at IBC's 2nd Mobile Imaging & Video Conference in London, November 12-13, 2002. The presentation will be available for download later on this site. Meanwhile, see the conference program.
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Animated Virtual Newscasters White Paper - Aug 19, 2002
A white paper on Animated Virtual Newscasters is now available for download. An animated virtual newscaster is a computer generated virtual character that delivers information over the Web in a television like manner. In this white paper, some examples of virtual characters are presented and two highly automated processes for creating a virtual newscast are outlined.
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Member of MediaLab staff wins at Assembly '02 - Aug 7, 2002
Saku Tiainen, an employee with Sonera MediaLab, was the programmer in the team that grabbed the top spot in the "Mobile Demo Compo" category at this year's Assembly event. The entry, which won by a clear margin, can be downloaded here (a Pocket PC 2002 compatible device required). Tiainen created "Limbo" in co-operation with two Finnish computer artists and a Dutch musician. The demo's performance and graphics were widely acknowledged to be impressive, and pushing the envelope further platform-wise. View a video clip of the demo in action (in RealVideo format).
The Assembly event is the world's biggest happening for computer and gaming enthusiasts with over 6 600 visitors this year. Hobbyists and young experts such as the 24-year old Tiainen can also show way to new business possibilities. The entries in the mobile demo competition sponsored by Sonera Mspace demonstrate the future possibilities of handheld communication devices. The demos, created for devices such as Pocket PC handhelds, the Siemens SL 45i mobile phone, and the Nokia 7650 camera phone, illustrate what new services and games might look and feel like.
The demo created for Pocket PC is streching the limits of the platform in an innovative way, and proves that the next generation mobile gaming experience can be taken to new frontiers. Mobile gaming has been estimated to rake in between 6 and 18 billion dollars by the year 2006, according to market analysis firms such as OVUM, ARC Group and Datamonitor.
Sonera MediaLab is proud to acknowledge Saku's achievement and wishes him all the best in the future. To read more about Sonera MediaLab's present and future projects, visit also our projects section.
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Animated Virtual Newscaster demonstration - Aug 5, 2002
A live demonstration of an animated virtual newscaster is now available on this site. The virtual newscaster presents recent news headlines from Sonera Plaza. The demonstration is in Finnish and requires Flash 5, Windows Media Player and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or newer. The demonstration also works on PocketPC 2002 based PDA devices like Compaq iPAQ. Flash Player 5 for Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Media Player Control for Pocket Internet Explorer are required and can be downloaded from Microsoft's Pocket PC download site. In addition, a 14.4 kpbs or faster Internet connection is required. The Pocket PC version of the demonstration can be accessed here.
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European ISP Forum 2002 - Jul 12, 2002
MediaLab will give a presentation titled "The Future of Comms Devices and User Interfaces" at IIR's 5th European ISP Forum in Amsterdam, October 21-24, 2002. The presentation will be available for download later on this site. Meanwhile, see the program of the forum.
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Mobile DRM presentation available - Jul 2, 2002
MediaLab's presentation "Implementing and Capitalising on DRM Structures for Mobile Content" presented at the Mobile Data & Internet Services Summit in Amsterdam on June 24-26, 2002 is now available for download in PDF format. The presentation takes a look at the status of digital rights management for mobile content today.
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Sonera MediaLab sports a new interface - Jul 1, 2002
The Sonera MediaLab website has received a major interface overhaul - tell us what you think about the new graphics and layout.
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Web Services White Paper available
A white paper on Web Services is now available for download. Web Services technology offers a programming model for creating interoperable, loosely coupled distributed applications using open standards like HTTP, XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI. This white paper introduces the Web Services architecture and the main enabling technologies.
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Sonera brings CNNi and MTV Live to broadband subscribers
Sonera has brought out a new service package for its Internet broadband subscribers including the CNN International and MTV Live broadband channels. Customers can access the streamed video channels on Sonera Plaza, the leading Finnish Internet portal. MediaLab has implemented the streaming infrastructure for the service, including the capturing and encoding of the CNNI satellite feed, as well as integrating authentication to the streams through the Sonera Plaza portal. See the press release [in Finnish / in English].
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Presentation on NTT DoCoMo FOMA and i-motion services available
"Understanding NTT DoCoMo's Rollout Strategy for Its 'i-motion' Services - What Lessons Can Be Learned for Other Mobile Streaming Players?" from IIR's 4th Streaming Media & Digital Content Delivery Conference is now downloadable in pdf format. The presentation covers topics such as mobile 3G network rollout in different countries; mobile Internet market shares for operators in Japan; i-mode: content revenue sharing model, ARPU, comparison of DoCoMo's and European mobile portals' (e.g. Sonera zed) position in the mobile content value chain, rollout status in Europe; FOMA: charges, terminals, services, deployment plan; i-motion: technology, applications, delivery system and patterns; other audio/video services in Japan: DoCoMo Mstage music, Mstage visual, V-Live, KDDI EZmovie, J-phone Movie Sha-mail; and lessons to be learned in Europe. See also a demonstration of the Panasonic P2101V FOMA phone (polyphonic ringing tones, java games, video clips).
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Mobile Data & Internet Services 2002 Summit on June 24-26, 2002
Watch this site to download MediaLab's presentation "Implementing and Capitalising on DRM Structures for Mobile Content" at Mobile Data Internet Services Summit, Amsterdam, June 24-26, 2002. Digital rights management is the key technology when moving from delivery control to usage control and peer-to-peer superdistribibution. How can we apply the factors that made ringing tones and logos such a success in selling mobile multimedia content and how are e.g. Sonera, Nokia, and DoCoMo involved in DRM? See the program of the summit!
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Streaming Media & Digital Content Delivery Conference on May 13-15, 2002
Available next week: MediaLab's presentation "Understanding NTT DoCoMo's Rollout Strategy for Its 'i-motion' Services - What Lessons Can Be Learnt for Other Mobile Streaming Players?" and demos about video clips, java games, and polyphonic ringing tones on a 3G handset. DoCoMo's 3G 'i-motion' service for video streaming was launched on November, 2001. What has been the take up so far? See the program of the conference!
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MediaLab offers a preview of RealVideo 9 content
Experience the new RealVideo 9 and view sample content at MediaLab website. We offer you a preview of the new RealNetworks technology announced at Streaming Media West in Los Angeles on April 24th, 2002. More information about the RealVideo 9 and RealAudio Surround technology is available at RealNetworks website.
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Virtual jokester demonstrates integration of speech synthesis and synchronized events
Sonera Plaza MediaLab has developed a platform which makes it possible to easily integrate speech synthesis and synchronized events in a live audio stream. Check out our example application, the virtual joketeller "Jokebox" (in Finnish only, requires RealPlayer and Netscape 4+ or IE 5+).
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The annual Sonera Future event gathered many IT and electrical engineering students into the Sonera premises in Tampere. The program started with presentations from some of Sonera's units: Human Resources, Entrum, Mobile Internet Technologies, Juxto and Sonera Plaza MediaLab, and continued with an evening program including competitions, games and demonstrations of Sonera's new technologies such as MediaLab's mobile virtual joker and video jukebox. See the photos from the event!
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Recovery Strategies for Telecom Operators Conference
Watch this site to download MediaLab's presentation "Operator and Content Provider Case Study: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Operator and Content Provider Business Models for Achieving Sustainable Revenue Streams as Part of Their Recovery Strategy" at Recovery Strategies for Telecom Operators Conference, London, Apr 24-25, 2002. See the program!
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Digital Rights Management (DRM) White Paper
A white paper on digital rights management (DRM) for audio/video content is now available for download. The paper describes how the rights management process for online music and videos works and explains the status on the initiatives, associations, and working groups developing standards and languages for DRM. These include SDMI, associations for secure memory cards, MPEG, XMCL, and XrML. The paper also compares technologies from IBM (EMMS), InterTrust (Rights|System), Microsoft (WMRM), and RealNetworks (RMCS).
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RealSystem Mobile Introduced at GSM World 2002
See the press release of the announcement of the RealSystem Mobile platform from RealNetworks, Inc. and related news topic about RealNetworks and Sonera working together on mobile streaming technology.
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Access Network Independent Service for Streaming
Two Master of Science theses for the ANIS (Access Network Independent Service) joint project between Sonera and the Institute of Communications Engineering at Tampere University of Technology are now available. In the project, a flexible control system for launching streaming multimedia services independly of the access network was designed and implemented. The thesis Utilizing Differentiated Services in Entertainment Networks describes how the Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF) Differentiated Services (DiffServ) mechanisms are used to provide Quality of Service (QoS) control in entertainment networks. The second thesis Implementation of Control System for Stream Services describes the implementation of the network and its service control system. The implementation is based on SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) technologies.
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Multimedia Search Engines White Paper
A white paper on multimedia search engines is now available for download in PDF format. Read how Internet multimedia search engines work, and what spiders, indexers, and query engines are. The paper also compares multimedia search technologies from Altavista, FAST, Inktomi, Singingfish, Convera, and Virage. Visit also the MediaLab MediaSearch pilot site.
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Revised Voice Portals White Paper
Check out the revised version of our voice portals white paper (in PDF format) covering topics such as VoiceXML, speech recognition, synthesis, authentication, voice portal architecture, example services, and technology providers. You can also listen to a simple audio demo on how a voice portal is used. The input is given with a phone keypad (no speech recognition) and the output is spoken by a Finnish text-to-speech synthesizer.
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RealNetworks and Sonera Work Together on Mobile Streaming Technology
RealNetworks, Inc. and MediaLab are conducting mobile streaming media trials together on Sonera's GSM HSCSD and GPRS networks using RealNetworks' mobile streaming technology. For more information, see the press release (in PDF format).
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Presentation for the Plaza Future User Interface project
MediaLab's presentation for the Plaza Future User Interface project held at USIX (User-Oriented Information Technology) 2001 seminar organized by National Technology Agency (Tekes) is now available.
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USIX 2001 seminar in Tampere on Nov 5, 2001
The USIX program (User-Oriented Information Technology) of National Technology Agency (Tekes) will have its 2001 seminar in Tampere on November 5, 2001. MediaLab will present the results for Plaza Future Users Interface project in the seminar. See the program!
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MediaLab featured at Microsoft PocketPC 2002 launch in Stockholm
Sonera Plaza MediaLab is working together with Microsoft to add mobile streaming multimedia services for the new Pocket PC 2002 operating system for handheld devices. A version of the MediaLab website with specially crafted demonstration content has been opened at www.medialab.sonera.fi/pocketpc/. Even if you didn't have a PocketPC device at your use, you can still take a peek at what the user experience feels like -- click here to open a browser window roughly the size of the display of the Compaq iPaq handheld, surf the MediaLab Pocket PC web pages, and view streaming content specially designed for PocketPC 2002. You can also download our press release in PDF format, or view a demo clip (requires RealPlayer) demonstrating the use of an iPaq running Pocket PC 2002. Demonstrated tasks include surfing the web, downloading and viewing a TV commercial clip, streaming and viewing a news clip, and running a demo developed at MediaLab to demonstrate the processing power of the iPaq. Microsoft's press releases of the Pocket PC 2002 launch.
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Broadband Content Congress 2001
Watch this site to download MediaLab's presentation "Making 3G Pay: Formulating a 3G Content Strategy to Exploit New Business Opportunities and Maximise ROI" at Broadband Content Congress 2001, Juan Les Pins, Nov 12-15, 2001.
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A new version of the popular Videojukebox is now in testing. Its new features include: playing order of songs is now determined by voting, votes automatically update the Top 30 chart of the last seven days, and a chat with other viewers! The video window now shows messages for the song that is playing, a volume adjustment slider, and a switch to full screen button. The optional SMS module (not used in this version) accepts votes and chat messages sent from mobile phones using SMS messages. Click here to view a screenshot of MediaLab VideoJukebox 2.
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MediaLab MediaSearch now online
The new MediaSearch search service developed at Sonera Plaza MediaLab has been launched for testing today. While not a pure media search looking directly for media files on the Web, MediaSearch innovatively combines a search for pages containing an entered search string with a search for a selectable media type contained on the page. Give it a test run and see if it suits your needs.
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Sonera Streaming Media Competion at MindTrek
MindTrek Competition is Finland's biggest national new media competition the aim of which is to find new innovative multimedia works. The competion is open from Sep 3 till Oct 1, 2001 and the prizes will be awarded on Nov 7, 2001. Check out the rules for Sonera Streaming Media Competion and submit your hyperlink(s) with the following web form. (In Finnish).
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First MHP applications for digital TV
The first MHP (Multimedia Home Platform) applications for digital TV are now available. Watch a streaming video demonstrating the use of a browser in digital TV. The video was made by recording the video output of a MHP capable set-top-box.
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The National Technology Agency (Tekes) has granted funding for MediaLab's 6.5 mFIM project Plaza Future User Interface. The project has been accepted for the USIX program (User-Oriented Information Technology). The participants are encouraged to develop applications related to key program areas that could be used in mobile networks, wireless local area networks, DigiTV, Internet, PCs and hand-held devices.
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Check out the voice portals white paper covering topics such as VoiceXML, speech recognition, authentication, and synthesis, and voice portal architecture, example services, and technology providers.
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MediaLab launches redesigned website
Sonera Plaza MediaLab has launched its new web site on 14 May 2001. New features include a completely redesigned user interface, an easy navigation system and a webcam image showing a view out of the new Sonera building in Hatanpää. Click on the television on the right to see what it looks like here in Tampere.
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Sonera Plaza gets a new interface
The most popular website in Finland, Sonera Plaza has today stepped into a new era with the redesign of its content and interface. Among the new features are the division of the Sonera Plaza content into three main groups: Today, Services and Channels. For more information, read the press release (in Finnish).
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A Vision On The Future Of Mobile Information Services
Download MediaLab's presentation A Vision On The Future Of Mobile Information Services at EADP 2001 conference. The presentation covers topics such as wireless and mobile 2/3G networks, next generation mobile devices (EPOC, PocketPC, PalmOS, Stinger), and case studies on mobile services for Sonera zed and DoCoMo i-mode.
Watch also the related "Case Desmond", a video clip of a view to future communications.
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Internet Streaming Media Platform
A Master's Thesis describing the Internet Streaming Media Platform developed at Sonera Plaza MediaLab can now be downloaded in PDF format. Among the topics covered are the basics of streaming media technologies, the commercial products on the market (Real Media, Microsoft Windows Media Technologies, Apple QuickTime), and the Sonera Live hosting service (including content management, customer management, reporting, and billing).
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Developing Mobile Multimedia Services To Enable Streaming To Wireless Devices
Download MediaLab's presentation Developing Mobile Multimedia Services To Enable Streaming To Wireless Devices at IIR's 3rd Media Streaming Conference. The presentation covers topics such as evolution of compression technology for different media formats, technology maturity for downloading and streaming on wireless and 2/3G mobile networks, case studies for downloading ringing tones on Sonera zed and for DoCoMo i-mode, wireless streaming alliances, wireless streaming standardization, and modifying existing hosting services for mobile streaming.
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