QUALCOMM, Maxis Communications and ASTRO All Asia Networks plc announced that the companies have signed an agreement to conduct a technical trial of QUALCOMM's MediaFLO technology in Malaysia.

The MediaFLO trial is expected to begin in fall 2007 and will feature 25 live content channels provided by ASTRO delivered in an 8 MHz UHF channel. The trial also will include Clipcasting media - short-format video content that can be stored on the mobile device and viewed at a later time.

Maxis is the leading telecommunications service provider in Malaysia, offering a range of UMTS third-generation wireless, fixed and international network services. ASTRO is the region's leading cross-media, multichannel broadcaster with direct-to-home satellite television services in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The company currently offers nearly 80 channels of content in PAL format.

“Maxis is an innovative leader at the forefront of delivering new products and services to our customers,” said Jon Eddy Abdullah, chief operating officer, Maxis Communications Berhad. “Already, we offer more than 20 TV channels on 3G, and we see great mass market potential for a high-quality mobile TV broadcast technology such as MediaFLO. As such, we are committed to offering mobile TV to the Malaysian market. Through this trial, we will assess the business and technical performance of MediaFLO and the promise of a compelling user experience with easy access and fast channel switching.”