The World Cup is coming up, but there's no way you'll manage to stay tuned in for all of the matches on your checklist - or is there? You'd be amazed at how far a phone can get you nowadays.
Vive la revolution!
Although coverage is limited, digital TV transmissions in the shape of DVB-H will provide an unparallelled on-the-go viewing experience for the lucky few who have managed to grab TV phones such as the Samsung SGH-P900 or LG's U900. Scarce as of yet, such transmissions are expected to reach coverage levels similar to those of major mobile network operators in the next few years to come - who knows, by the time the next World Cup comes we'll all be sitting pretty with the successor to the Nokia N92's successor.
Let the football floweth
If you don't live in Germany, Italy or the UK - the only markets where DVB-H has any coverage to speak of - however, chances are neither handsets nor transmissions are available to you. Fret not; mobile network operator Three is just one of many who will offer game highlights and other video content for streaming to 3G phones such as the LG Nokia 6280. In fact, a select few countries are fortunate enough to have entire matches streamed - but mind the costs if you go this route.
Goooaaaaaallllllll
Alright, so maybe you can't afford spending that much to get in on the action - like the most of us. Two sensible alternatives still remain, one of which is a phone equipped with a stereo FM radio with RDS support. Sony Ericsson's W810i and W900i are both excellent contenders, and will let you listen in on the games with quality audio and perhaps a tad more discretion than staring wildly at a 2-inch plus screen in the office.
This just in
Speaking of staring at screens, listening to a radio might not be the most discrete of tactics either - particularly if you should find yourself screaming at the top of your lungs from the comfort of your cubicle. To avoid getting caught reading up on live match transcripts on the web, get yourself a 3G phone with a quality browser; O2's XDA Exec and Nokia's 9300i are first-rate alternatives, while the O2 XDA Mini S or Nokia's E61 bring up the rear with slightly more low-key form factors.
The full monty
If you're loaded (or have a flat rate data plan) and don't mind carrying a 3G-enabled Windows Mobile phone the size of a house (read: the O2 XDA Exec), there's a final alternative. Purchase a TV tuner card for your PC, and pick up Orb Networks' software for streaming an incoming cable feed straight to your Windows Mobile device as it's being broadcast. Even better; if you need to rush off to a meeting, you can schedule recordings of a match and watch it whenever you've got time.
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