Samsung brings TV phones to Europe just in time for World Cup

Samsung Electronics will sell digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) phones that can carry terrestrial TV signals through Debitel, a German carrier, starting next month.

The FIFA World Cup, which starts next month in Germany, is expected to be a major test bed for TV phones and companies like Samsung and Philips have geared up phone launches to dovetail with the event. The companies anticipate that consumers will use the phones to check out game highlights during their commute or lunch hour. Yahoo and other websites are also currently gearing up to provide up-to-the-minute reports on the tournament.

Terrestrial TV phones are already available in South Korea.