Qualcomm Inc. will deploy a nationwide network delivering multimedia message service broadcasts to mobile handsets, the company announced Monday.

The network, which is expected to come online in 2006, will be offered to CDMA, 1x EV-DO and W-CDMA cellular operators in the United States through Qualcomm subsidiary MediaFlo USA Inc. MediaFlo will aggregate and distribute the content over as many as 100 channels, including 15 live streaming channels.

The new service promises to dramatically increase offerings for mobile video fans. MobiTV, which is the only live mobile television network currently available, features about 20 channels; Sprint PCS' Sprint TV includes four "basic" channels plus a handful of premium choices.

Qualcomm said the content may be broadcast at 30 frames per second-roughly the broadcast rate of television-and will "dramatically surpass" current mobile video quality. Sprint TV, the only carrier-provided service in the United States, broadcasts at half that rate.

Television networks, local channels, cable providers and satellite operators will provide content for the Qualcomm network.

"Qualcomm strongly believes that the broad delivery of wireless multimedia services is the logical next step in the evolution of wireless," said Paul E. Jacobs, Qualcomm's executive vice president. "Building on our deep relationships with wireless operators, handset manufacturers and content providers, we can accelerate the adoption of multimedia on wireless devices by making it truly cost effective ..."

Qualcomm and other investors will fuel the project by providing $800 million in investments to MediaFlo during the next four to five years.

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