BBC iPlayer on more handsets: Nokia N85, Samsung Omnia, Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and C905

It’s getting hard to keep up, with the BBC rolling out new versions of its UK-only seven day Internet TV catch-up service on what feels like an almost monthly basis. This time iPlayer support has been added to a whole bunch of recently released mobile phones.

First up is the Nokia N85, which will utilize the version currently available on the N96. As you may remember from my recent review, unlike the iPhone and iPod touch offering, iPlayer content on the N96 (and now N85) isn’t restricted to streaming but can also be downloaded for viewing off-line for a limited period.

See also: Hands-on: BBC iPlayer for Nokia N96

Secondly, two Windows Mobile-based smartphones, the Samsung Omnia and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, can now access iPlayer through a new mobile-optimized website. And next week, the brand new Sony Ericsson C905 will also be added to the list, a notable first as the device is a so-called ‘feature phone’ not a higher-end smartphone as such, although those distinctions are becoming a little outdated as technology gets cheaper. As well as on-demand content, the new iPlayer mobile site also provides live TV and radio streaming.

“These phones have been selected as they hit our requirements of Wi-Fi and 3G support with great browsing and media playback experience i.e. the video and audio look and sound good”, writes the BBC’s Jon Billings, Head of Technology for Mobile.

More handsets are promised in the future, including “one or two more future Nokia devices”, says Billings. Nokia N97 anyone?

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last100 is edited by Steve O'Hear. Aside from founding last100, Steve is co-founder and CEO of Beepl and a freelance journalist who has written for numerous publications, including TechCrunch, The Guardian, ZDNet, ReadWriteWeb and Macworld, and also wrote and directed the Silicon Valley documentary, In Search of the Valley. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

3 Responses to “BBC iPlayer on more handsets: Nokia N85, Samsung Omnia, Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and C905”

  1. Chris williamson says:

    SAMSUNG I8510 THIS PHONE IS MORE THAN FEATURE RICH IT LEAVES THE OTHERS WEEPING CMON STOP PUTTING YOURS AND YOUR MATES PHONES FIRST AND GET SOME USEFUL POPULAR DEVICES SUPPORTED????????????????

  2. frank williams says:

    I am an expat living in spain, when (if ever) will i be able to view programs on the BBC iplayer service outside the uk?
    Regards

  3. Steve O'Hear says:

    @ frank williams

    I doubt you’ll see iPlayer working abroad anytime soon. You may have to wait until the BBC launches its commercial Internet TV service, in which I expect there will be a subscription fee, and that is facing regulator review I think. So it could be a long time coming… it’s also more complicated because the BBC doesn’t have a world-wide license for all of its content as far as I know.

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