Location Free TV in the UK from Sony

By budda on Friday, January 20th, 2006 comments

Sony released their Location Free TV service in the US during December 2005, and now Sony confirmed it's coming to the UK!

The service offers users the opportunity to watch a video signal transmitted from their home, on any portable device which has Wi-fi.

The system has two components. A decoder box which sits at home and plugs in to an A/V signal and an ethernet connection (broadband). Such boxes are currently selling for $350 state side.

The other end of the system is the viewer application. Initially the application will be available for the Sony PSP handheld, followed by laptop PCs.

Could this be a killer app for the, so far, weak gaming line-up of the Sony PSP? You can hook the decoder box up to your Freeview/Sky digital and watch your favourite shows on the go. Using the 'auto view' feature of your Sky box EPG removes the problem of changing channel whilst away from your house too!

Adding to this, Sony Ericsson is about to deliver a phone that will be compatible with the Location Free TV system. Presumably the phone will include Wi-Fi which makes it most likely to be the next generation of the SE smartphone the P990 which goes on sale next month.

Find out more in the Location Free TV lounge over at Sony.