Indian Movie to Debut on Cell Phones

Entertainment Showbiz Pakistan , Bollywood & World Entertainment
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An Indian cellular phone company plans to air a new Bollywood movie on mobile handsets for free and in full Thursday in a bid to promote its video-streaming service.

“Rok Sako To Rok Lo,” or “Stop, If You Can,” will be available to Bharti Tele-Ventures customers in 11 Indian cities, provided their phones have the supporting technology, said Atul Bindal, a director at India’s second-largest cellular service provider.

Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd. will be “the first cellular service in the world to premiere a full-length movie on mobile phones,” Bindal said. “I am certain that this service will add a whole new dimension to the concept of mobile-based entertainment.”

The Hindi movie, a teenage romance, was directed by Arindam Chaudhary. Bollywood star Sunny Deol is the only name in a cast of virtual unknowns. It is scheduled for general release in movie theaters on Friday.

To be among the first to see the movie, Bharti customers’ phones must have EDGE, or Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications Evolution. EDGE enables mobile phones to connect to the Internet and transfer data at high speeds.

A maximum of 200 people will be able to connect and watch the movie simultaneously, and the movie cannot be copied or replayed.

Bharti had 6.76 million mobile phone customers at the end of April 2004. No information was available on the number of Bharti customers with EDGE-enabled phones, which typically cost around $270.

The company hopes to air more movies, and may charge a fee depending on customer reactions to Thursday’s preview, another Bharti official said.

i dunno why i just find this news…too…:rotfl:

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Good that they are bringing cutting edge technology. But gosh, someone give them tips on naming their companies :smack: Indian corporate names are as disappointed as their men’s dressing sense. Check wali shirt and gray pants :hehe:

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ab yeh bhi bata dijiye ki Bharti Tele-Ventures main kya kharaabi hain?

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Well who will want to watch a movie on a cell phone. It sounds cool but not very much practical.
just a demonstration of technology.

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^ Same poeple you want to watch movie in SUVs.

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so people are willing to hold their cell phone for 3 straight hours!!! Sounds a bit ridiculous.

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I see this as a conceptual leap in mobile entertainment… imagine this leading to widespread movie trailers being broadcasted on cell phones. Now, people on the move - trains/buses etc. wouldn’t mind watching these on their cell phones - esp. as cell phone form factors improve.

Good to see India not only catching up-to-speed but defining new standards! :k:

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In india there are few music channels on cell phones but who wants to watch it when you have tv in your home.
the only practical use i can see if they start showing cricket matches on cells.:love:
Imagine, in your office, bus or anywhere you can still see the action.

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^^ now that's very luvrative revenue stream :) - I'm sure someone's looking into it :)

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Lo dasso! As if we don't have enough distracted drivers on the roads any how, here comes feature films on cell phones.

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how much memory and space is the cell phone going to have to support the movie and not to forget the cost

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^ I think it will stream. No need to have a huge download, when you don't have to.

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Movie trailers and even music videos on the go seem practical but a whole damn movie on a 2" screen? Seems like a waste of time and money to me.

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neat stuff.