Thin Multimedia, which provides an end-to-end platform for wireless video, has announced a trial aimed at US users. The web-based system will enable users to compose and send video messages direct to the handsets of subscribers in South Korea. Thin Multimedia has been working with operators in South Korea to develop wireless video applications for over a year.

The trial service will be operational during Chu Seok, a South Korean national holiday, and Thin Multimedia is encouraging US citizens with relatives in South Korea to use the system to send holiday greetings. Thin works with SK and LG Telecom in Korea and claims 2m users on the SK Telecom network alone. In March 2002 Thin Multimedia reported that it was delivering around 2400 video clips per day over SK’s CDMA network and this was growing at 170% per month. South Korea is acknowledged as one of the most advanced mobile markets in the world.

“We wanted to give users in the US a way to connect with relatives that is more personal and more fun than just a voice phone call,” said Dale Park, COO of Thin Multimedia. “With Thin Video Mail, it’s easy for moms to create a short video of their new baby, students to say hello to their parents, and teenagers to send funny messages to their friends.”

Insight

Obviously this is going to have limited appeal (how many wireless-savvy, webcam-equipped, South Korean expats do you know?) but it does provide an interesting demonstration of the sort of services Koreans have been enjoying for over a year. Built on a pure CDMA infrastructure, South Korean networks are some of the most advanced in the world, and users have snapped up new handsets with video messaging capabilities.

Thin Multimedia provides a complete offering, comprising server, content relationships and client application. The company put together a complete wireless video system for SK Telecom in a relatively short period, enabling users to download video clips, send video messages and receive video news alerts. Thin’s technology also supports the GSM evolution path, so look for announcements of operator trials outside Korea in the near future.