SCM Microsystems has introduced the world's first receiver for mobile terrestrial Digital TV in the PC-Card form factor (PCMCIA). The Mobile Terrestrial Receiver enables consumers to receive digital terrestrial broadcast TV (DVB-T) programmes and use wireless data services including Internet access on their Laptop PCs, tablet PCs or PDAs with a PCMCIA interface.

A press release says that the receiver is very small, lightweight and needs no power supply. Volume deliveries of the receiver will start in the first quarter of next year.

An official release informs that the mobile terrestrial receiver positions SCM Microsystems to capitalise on the worldwide trend toward DVB-T. While the first model targets the German market, the Mobile Terrestrial Receiver can be readily adapted for use in any country with DVB-T broadcasting including Asia and the US.

Today DVB-T is available in some Scandinavian countries, in the UK and in Germany in and around the Berlin area. The service will be available very soon in other larger German cities.

By the end of 2006, terrestrial digital services will be available all over Germany. Using SCM's receiver, end-users will be in a position to watch Digital Free-to-Air television on their notebooks and other portable devices, as well as using other digital services, like travel information, local news or streamed video enabled by third-party service providers anywhere at any time.

SCM Microsystems develops and manufactures the receiver device including all necessary hardware and software. The company has stated that its deep know-how in the PCMCIA interface technology and our huge experience in receiver technologies positioned us to make a significant contribution to this strategic project.

The Mobile Terrestrial Receiver is particularly exciting for consumers in areas with DVB-T broadcasting, because it offers new opportunities for information access and entertainment on portable PCs and other devices states the release.

SCM Microsystems supplies solutions that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital content and services. The company markets its smart card reader technology for network and physical access and conditional access modules for secure digital TV decryption to OEM customers in the government, financial, enterprise and broadcasting markets worldwide.