ROK gets into hardware

RATHER THAN cutting a content deal over World Cup soccer as the INQ had expected, ROK has decided to get into the hardware business. It's planning to offer a Bluetooth based device which will transmit TV images to mobile phones.

"We'll beat Virgin/BT to the punch when it comes to being the first to offer digital TV live to mobiles," claimed ROK's group marketing director, Bruce Renny. The only snag is that you need to be within 10 metres (a mere 33 feet) of the device which will be known simply as the BLX (ROK Black Box).

It is aimed at domestic users but can only synch to one handset. The box is connected either to a broadband-enabled PC or a broadband router. It allows the mobile phone to act as a remote TV controller too.

No pricing is available yet, but it should go onsale by June 1st [2006], one week before the World Cup starts.

Interestingly, Renny revealed that the BBC and ITV can't sub-licence the World Cup to companies like his. So does that mean a mobile operator could nip in quick and nick the mobile rights? µ