TVB Mobile DTV Tech Alert: FLO TV for iPhones and Cars

LAS VEGAS: Mophie, an iPhone accessorizor out of Paw Paw, Mich., has created a carrying cases with built-in FLO TV reception. The mophie juice pack delivers external battery power as well as FLO TV to the iPhone 3GS. FLO struck a deal with mophie to create juice pack receivers for iPod touch devices as well. The “intelligent” cases are expected to ship in the first half of the year at yet-to-be revealed prices.

The arrangement was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. FLO TV, a division of San Diego, Calif.-based Qualcomm, also said Audiovox was shipping Advent-branded FLO TV Auto Entertainment products, including FLO’s own handhelds, to around 2,000 car dealers around the country. A full roll-out is scheduled to follow. The Audiovox-FLO TV relationship was announced at last year’s CES. Audiovox, located in Hauppauge, N.Y., said it will market a personal DVD system later this year that’s expected to have FLO TV reception.

FLO TV has been around as a service for nearly two years, available through carriers like AT&T and Verizon. It introduced its own receiver last October. The FLO TV handheld carried a suggested retail price of nearly $250.