Nokia announced today that their 5330 Mobile TV Edition phone, which offers easy access to mobile TV, will be available in SA from Q1 2010. The news comes off the back of an announcement by ICASA last week that temporary licenses to DSTV would be issued to ensure that DVB-H is available during the World Cup.

The Nokia 5330 is an entertainment device that combines mobile broadcast TV, social networking, music and gaming in one compact and stylish 3G device. The phone makes use of DVB-H technology, allowing for programmes to be showcased via the sharp 2.4" screen. It offers one-click access to live broadcasts and can pick up the best channels around, whilst enabling you to set reminders for your favourite shows to make sure you don’t miss key episodes. You can also create a personal channel list with Nokia’s Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for a more personalised mobile broadcast TV experience. A 3.5 mm jack is included on the device allowing you to plug in your own earphones, but you can also use the onboard speaker to share the experience with friends and family. As with radio broadcasts the headset acts as an antenna for optimal picture reception.

According to Nokia the phone has an impressive battery life, giving you up to six hours of TV viewing, meaning you’ll be able to watch a couple of movies or a couple of soccer matches, before you need to recharge the phone. It will retail for 155 Euros internationally (less than R1200), but we are still awaiting final details on local pricing.

“DSTV Mobile has rolled out DVB-H networks in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Namibia and we are currently rolling out a number of new networks in other African countries. Our success has been built around offering innovative and premium television content at an affordable price while facilitating access to inexpensive handsets which suite the requirements of consumers in Africa. The introduction of the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition is a welcome development as Nokia is a trusted brand in Africa and will further encourage television viewers to access entertainment, sport and news on the DSTV Mobiles platforms,” explained Francois Theron, CEO at Digital Satellite Television Mobile.

There are a number of other Nokia phones that already support DVB-H such as the Nokia N92, N77, N96. The N97, N86 8MP, E75 and the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic also support DVB-H using the Nokia Mobile TV Receiver (SU-33W).