Qualcomm has moved to strengthen its position in the mobile TV space via the acquisition of US content delivery technology firm, Digital Fountain. In a low-key announcement, Qualcomm said in a statement only that it “has acquired a team of seven key engineers that will continue to support the technology and existing Digital Fountain customers.” The team will be led by Digital Fountain’s founder and CTO, Mike Luby, who will report into Qualcomm’s CTO. Digital Fountain is a specialist in broadcast and real-time data transport and its technology is aimed at mobile operators, IPTV providers and national defence agencies. Its customers include Cisco Systems, Sumitomo Electric Networks, Scientific Atlanta, Northrop Grumman, Pioneer, KDDI, Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Radio, Sony, Nokia and Adobe.

Qualcomm is planning a big push for its MediaFLO mobile TV platform this year, targeting launch in more than 100 US markets by year-end. It intends to launch services using 700MHz spectrum it acquired in US auctions last year. However, the recent decision by the US government to delay the move from analogue to digital TV in the US has meant a delay in releasing the spectrum.