MobUI connects VH1 viewers, celebs through mobile IM

Development for the group chat app on nearly every platform excluding the iPhone began more than eight months ago under the direction of Action Engine, acquired by MobUI last month. Following the acquisition and official launch of MobUI, the app was quickly made market-ready, leaving the developers to focus on the Apple iPhone as the next distribution platform. Eventually, MobUI’s goal is to get the app on every major carrier deck in the US. The company is actively working on launching with other carriers as well, Burry said.

Today mobile is still an intermediary step to interacting directly on the TV while a show is taking place. Several IPTV vendors are looking to enable similar group chat functions as a social networking-inspired service. Beginning early next year, Integra5 will offer this capability through MediaFriends TV Chat, which delivers real-time, live group TV chat that incorporates a PC buddy list. Microsoft’s Mediaroom middleware also has the ability to let viewers invite friends to watch the same program and engage in voice chat or exchange text messages. Similarly, Ericsson’s middleware, debuted at TelcoTV, can also enable chat and messaging functionality on the TV. Still, these services don’t cut out the cell phone entirely, relying on it as the mode of chatting via SMS text messages.

At launch, the VH1 app will be available on a mix of 37 AT&T Smartphones and basic flip phones, including the Blackberry Pearl and Curve and the Motorola RAZR. Seventy additional phones are planned before the year’s end. While MobUI is also focused on developing ad-supported platforms, VHI will be a subscription service at launch. The app can be downloaded from AT&T’s Media Mall for either a one-time fee of $7.99 or a monthly subscription of $2.99.