Hot Competition For Viewers

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday September 17, 2007

Siddharth Raja

The playing field is as close as your phone this summer, writes Siddharth Raja.

With footy finals fever in the air and a long summer of cricket not too far off, now is the time to invest in a 3G mobile phone so you can catch all the crucial games no matter where you are. Whether you're having a day at the beach, socialising at the pub or doing "overtime" at work, today's mobile television can keep you up-to-date as never before.

The four major carriers, Telstra, Vodafone, Optus and 3, have tempting deals for mobile television but there are a few major pitfalls to consider. Not every sport is covered by each network so before you sign up make sure the games you want to watch are available with the carrier you are talking to.

Also, each network has its own specific range of handsets (available outright or on a monthly plan), so if you're fond of a particular brand or model you'll need to confirm it's available as well. To make life easier we asked the four carriers to recommend a phone compatible with their video packages.

One important aspect to be wary of with mobile television is the quality of the video being streamed.

Regular programs such as news reports or music videos would, in most cases, be fine but fast-moving action with small objects, such as a cricket ball sailing into the stand, may be hard to pick out.

There are couple of things you can do to ensure you'll get the best possible image. First, look for a handset with a big, vibrant screen. Also, check the image quality when viewing the display from various angles. Unfortunately, the tiny LCD screens typical of the four mobile phones tested can be hard to see at an angle or under direct sunlight. So compare before deciding.

Another feature affecting the quality of the video being streamed is the phone's data transfer rate. Most carriers still stream video using normal 3G standards but all the networks eventually will roll out the faster HSDPA streaming, so if you're signing up for a two-year contract we suggest you look for a handset capable of HSDPA.

Most of the networks charge a nominal monthly subscription fee for each live television channel or one single fee for a package of channels.

Since deals are flat-rate, you can watch to your heart's content - however, this is where battery life comes into play. Streaming live television takes a lot of power so a long-lasting battery won't go astray.

During special events such as the Rugby World Cup, there will be special deals to sign up to full coverage packages showing every game, commentary and news.

As well as the live events, you'll also be able to download small clips to store on your phone and watch again for a period of time.

NOKIA N95

$1379 www.three.com.au

Rating: 4.5/5

The N95 is the most expensive handset here but it also packs in the most features and the largest screen. The 6.6cm display is great for watching live sports TV and its stereo speakers ensure excellent sound as well. The handset is available on 3's 3G network and can double as a portable navigator thanks to its inbuilt GPS. Other goodies include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a whopping 5.0 megapixel digital camera and HSDPA data transfer. Nokia throws in an extensive on-device photo and video editor to play around with all the happy snaps you take.

CONTENDERS

SONYERICSSON W880i

$899

www.vodafone.com.au

Rating: 3/5

Available on the Vodafone Live network, the W880i is a slim, attractive handset with a loud internal speaker. It's competitively priced but misses out on the newer HSDPA data transfer protocol and comes with only a 2.0 megapixel camera (most are 3-plus). The W880i also falls short on screen acreage: its 4.6cm display is the smallest here. Images are sharp but the smaller size isn't suited to watching sports. Battery life isn't great, either. With minimal use, you can expect it to last two days at most.

SAMSUNG A801

$799

www.telstra.com

Rating: 3.5/5

The A801 comes with Telstra's Next G network and is the cheapest here. Being Telstra-specific, it takes advantage of the network's fast data transfer rates and has a BigPond and Foxtel link. As with the W880i, the A801's battery won't last more than a day and rates as the worst in this round-up. The menu system is also slower than expected. Image quality is very good, the 5.4cm screen doing an admirable job of displaying live TV and sound quality is good too.

NOKIA N73

$949

www.optus.com.au

Rating: 3/5

The 6.1cm screen on the N73, though not the biggest, was the best we tested. Images look a treat from most angles and are very sharp. The big screen also makes browsing the internet or watching video clips a treat. Available through Optus, the N73 also comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera but misses out on WiFi. Weighing in at 116g, the N73 is small enough to go unnoticed in most pockets and its battery is the strongest here, making it perfect for watching long games.

VERDICT

If price is no option, the award for the best handset in this round-up without doubt goes to Nokia's feature-laden N95 suggested by 3. It has the biggest screen and the best sound, making it great for watching live sports. However, Nokia's N73 screen is almost as big and, with its combination of reasonable price and extensive features. It is the best value.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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