(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Broadcasters in China's emerging mobile TV industry have been ordered to use Chinese technology standards instead of competing foreign systems.
China is trying to develop its own standards for mobile communications and other technology, hoping to reduce reliance on foreign know-how and give its own companies a competitive edge.
The national broadcast regulator, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, told mobile TV broadcasters that they must use the STiMi standard developed by its own researchers, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
'The introduction of STiMi, which is China's independent intellectual property right, demonstrates that China has world-leading technology in the field, and will not have to submit to the standards of other countries,' an unidentified researcher was quoted as saying.
STiMi stands for Satellite Terrestrial Interactive Multi-service Infrastructure.
China's high-tech companies could benefit if the country's systems were adopted as world standards, because they would have a head start in using it and could license technology abroad.
Makers of mobile phones and other products have complained of lengthy delays in issuing next-generation standards as Chinese researchers try to perfect systems capable of handling their technical demands.
Major Chinese mobile phone companies have about 1.5 million mobile TV subscribers, according to Xinhua. The companies are using other standards and will need time to switch to the Chinese standard.
China has more than 400 million mobile phone users and is regarded as one of the world's most promising markets for mobile TV and other value-added wireless services.
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