ICO
Global Communications (Holdings) Limited (NASDAQ:ICOG) and Alcatel-Lucent
(Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) will be demonstrating the world’s first
fully integrated satellite-terrestrial network being used to deliver
mobile video and interactive two-way communications services during the International
Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The
network is supporting ICO’s mobile interactive media service, ICO
mim™. ICO mim delivers live television, interactive navigation and
two-way communications to a wide variety of mobile and portable devices.
ICO mim is powered by the largest
commercial satellite launched to date, ICO G1, which covers the
entire United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. ICO G1
allows for a unique, fully interactive mobile experience, and at CES,
users will witness the full range of features that can be deployed
utilizing the satellite’s unique two-way capabilities. Services from ICO
G1 are supplemented by a terrestrial network that provides coverage in
dense urban areas. This hybrid satellite-terrestrial network design
allows for anytime, anywhere coverage, especially in areas where
wireless services are unavailable. Trials for the ICO mim service are
underway in Las Vegas, Nevada and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Working with ICO, Alcatel-Lucent has developed mobile video technology
using the worldwide DVB-SH standard (Digital
Video Broadcast – Satellite-services-to-Handhelds). Alcatel-Lucent
is also ICO’s network integrator supporting the construction of
terrestrial networks in both test markets and ensuring the overall
network performance across the multi-vendor hybrid network.
The mobile demonstrations during CES will feature several vehicles in a
range of configurations which showcase the ICO satellite-terrestrial
network. The mobile video demonstrations include eight channels of
national news, entertainment and children’s content delivered to 7 to 10
inch video screens, highlighting the advantages of mobile video
delivered to larger screens with high quality picture resolution.
One of the demonstration vehicles is equipped with Delphi
Corporation’s innovative ‘dual-view’
screen plus Mobile DTV capability for receiving local broadcast
content. The dual view screen introduces entertainment viewing to front
seat passengers without compromising driver safety by allowing only the
passenger to watch mobile television while the driver can access
navigation, communication and command functions. The Mobile DTV receiver
allows passengers a choice of local mobile television content and ICO’s
national offerings. Another vehicle features a portable device,
developed by Archos
Corporation, which highlights the potential for portable mobile
video devices by delivering mobile TV to portable entertainment
receivers in the car.
During the trials, ICO is demonstrating all of the elements of its
network in preparation for a subsequent service launch. ICO will be
conducting extensive market research during the trials. Trial
participants will experience mobile satellite interactivity first-hand,
with applications such as text and email messaging, voice
communications, and access to real-time weather, traffic and point of
interest data. In addition to the ICO mim service offering, ICO has also
been testing handsets and mobile devices which could offer traditional
wireless calling services in conjunction with current cellular networks
and handsets.
"Americans have an insatiable demand for video and mobility, and ICO’s
trials are focused on validating a compelling nationwide service
offering,” commented Tim Bryan, chief executive officer of ICO.
"Alcatel-Lucent has led a world-class ecosystem of DVB-SH technology
partners to showcase the power of ICO G1 in delivering a compelling
consumer proposition.”
"With the ICO mim service in a car, I feel as comfortable as I am at
home watching TV. With excellent sound and video quality, plus a larger
screen, mobile TV now brings the same pleasure as traditional TV,” added
Olivier Coste, chairman of Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile broadcast activities.
"With the satellite, mobile TV now works everywhere a user might roam;
tomorrow, this service will be as ubiquitous as radio is today.”
For media, representatives of ICO and Alcatel-Lucent will be at the Digital
Experience! 2009 @ CES event on Wednesday, January 7 at the Mirage
Hotel from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., and the ShowStoppers
@ CES 2009 event on Thursday, January 8 at the Wynn Hotel and Casino
from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
About DVB-SH
DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcast – Satellite services to Handhelds) is an
evolution of DVB-H and a powerful mobile broadcast standard allowing
cost-effective mobile TV deployments. It can be used in any frequency
spectrum below 3GHz, including UHF, L-Band and S-Band, this in
terrestrial only, satellite only or also in hybrid networks. The DVB-SH
specifications were approved by the DVB Project in February 2007, and
the DVB-SH waveform definition was published by the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in March 2008.
About ICO
ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited is a satellite
communications company developing an advanced next-generation hybrid
media system, combining both satellite and terrestrial communications
capabilities. ICO’s satellites are capable of supporting wireless voice,
data, and/or Internet services on mobile and portable devices. In North
America, ICO is deploying a mobile interactive media service known as
ICO mim™. ICO mim will combine ICO’s unique interactive satellite
capability with nationwide coverage to deliver a new level of
navigation, enhanced roadside assistance and the ultimate mobile video
experience, including 10-15 live channels of premium television content.
ICO is based in Reston, Virginia. For more information, visit www.ico.com.
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) is the trusted partner of
service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing
solutions that deliver voice, data and video communications services to
end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking,
IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the
unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the
largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With
operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global
services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner
with global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion
in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in
Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet at www.alcatel-lucent.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding ICO mobile interactive media service, ICO mim.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from our expected
results. More information about risks is contained in ICO's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in
this press release speak as of the date hereof, and ICO undertakes no
obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any
reason.