Orb Networks announced expanded support for playing and recording Internet TV and other online video from any mobile device with a streaming Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or 3GP player on any carrier network and WiFi.

No specialized mobile software or mobile fees other than a data plan are required. Anyone can now watch and record Internet TV and enjoy vlogs and other online video right from their mobile device's native Web browser and streaming media player.

"This is a fantastic moment for online video, with full-length traditional TV shows and live feeds of international soccer matches coming online to augment the rich content already there. Orb Networks is pioneering the instant enjoyment on mobile devices of all that content," said Ian McCarthy, Vice President of Product Marketing at Orb Networks.

Orb removes the media-format and bitrate challenges to making Internet TV mobile TV. Content providers can publish iTV feeds in their preferred media format and bitrate and still be sure that their audience can enjoy the content on their everyday mobile devices. "For example, if there's an iTV feed of a live soccer match available online in Windows Media Video format only, I can still enjoy it live (or record it to view later) from the RealPlayer on my Nokia mobile phone," said McCarthy. "Once I've added the URL of the soccer match's iTV feed to my Orb Custom Channels, the free Orb software on my home PC transcodes the original stream (or recording) for me from Windows to Real and ensures that I get the new stream at the appropriate bitrate for my phone's data connection right at my moment of viewing. Watching iTV feeds and recordings on my phone has expanded the value to me of my mobile data plan and handset investments."

Orb's support for mobile playback of online video augments its industry-leading support for the enjoyment of home TV on Windows, Real, and 3GP mobile devices. "With Orb and a Hauppauge WinTV tuner-card on my home PC, I can stream to my phone the new Dr. Who episode live from my home cable-TV feed and then play an online-only episode of Dr. Who Confidential to continue my fan experience," said McCarthy. "Orb deepens consumers' involvement with the television brands they love and expands the ways content providers can reach their audiences."