Satellite TV Phone Is Coming

SEOUL — Although it can’t receive adult programming yet, Samsung Electronics has developed a cellphone with a built-in satellite TV receiver that can pick up 11 video channels and 26 audio channels.

The SCH-B250 isn’t the first satellite phone from Samsung, but recent market and usability tests in Seoul — the only market where the phone is currently available — have returned promising results, and nobody is denying that satellite video phones aren’t the future of mobile content.

Korea’s TU Media and its roughly 200,000 have had access to the service, called satellite Digital Multimedia, for a few months now. The phone, currently priced at $700, does not work outside of South Korea yet.

TU Media had to build a vast network of transmitters throughout Seoul to ensure decent access to the satellite content because buildings in the city tend to block out reception to the satellites, and the company even placed a number of “gap fillers” in the city’s subway system so users could enjoy video content under the city as well.

Thanks to the company’s work, a number of different recent tech reviews have raved about the SCH-B250, including Martyn Williams at IDG News Service, who said the phone worked “flawlessly” during a several hour test throughout Seoul.

“Even on subway trains between stations, deep under the city streets, the gap fillers provided a strong enough signal that I could continue watching TV without interruption--much to the interest of fellow passengers,” Williams said.

Currently the phone’s resolution stands at 320 pixels by 240 pixels, which Williams said was enough to see even small characters with ease. At five ounces it is heavier than most high-end phones on the market, and at 3.8 inches by 1.92 inches by 1.14 inches thick it’s also bigger, but the technology, according to Williams, is quickly improving.

“The good news,” Williams said, “is that the B250 is Samsung's smallest satellite DMB phone yet.”

No word yet on when Samsung plans to bring the phone stateside.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

JuicyAds Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Fraudulent Domain

JuicyAds has won its World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) case against a website using a similar domain to impersonate the company's site and defraud customers.

Anissa Kate, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top-selling stars for the second quarter of 2025, with Anissa Kate landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

France Reinstates Age Verification Rule for EU Sites

France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Tuesday reinstated age verification rules for EU-based sites under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, ruling in favor of the French government and against Hammy Media.

Whisper Fans Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Whisper Fans has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Utherverse Launches 'Red Light Center' Virtual World

Virtual reality and metaverse technology company Utherverse has launched its new virtual world, RedLightCenter.io.

European Commission Approves AV Guidelines, Unveils Prototype App

The European Commission on Monday released its final, approved guidelines for protecting minors online under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and made public a “white label” age verification app intended to help sites and platforms comply with age verification rules under the DSA.

Show More