Ericsson adds text message function to G4TechTV
By Adnews Staff
Telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson Canada has begun an initiative in association with mobile communications firm MyThum Interactive to bring a technology called "Text2Screen" to a number of primetime shows on specialty channel G4TechTV. The technology news and information channel is co-owned by G4TechTV, Rogers Media and Shaw Communications. Viewers will be able to communicate with each other by sending text messages from their mobile phones that will be displayed at the bottom of the television screen. The service will be available during the weekday primetime programs G4TV.com, Filter, Cheat, Cinematech and Icons. "Our audience is extremely tech-savvy, so adding SMS chat-back capabilities to our programming was a natural choice," said Malcolm Dunlop, vice-president of programming and marketing at Rogers Media Television. "The collaboration between Ericsson and Rogers Media, combined with MyThum's technology, will give viewers a new and familiar forum to tell us what's on their minds." In February, Ericsson and MyThum launched a similar service during late-night programming on OMNI2, also a Rogers channel.