| ARM mobile device DRM schemes showcased |
Feb. 14, 2006
Two DRM (digital rights management) schemes supporting ARM-based devices are being demonstrated at 3GSM this week in Barcelona. Both are claimed to conform to Open Mobile Alliance DRMv2 specifications, aimed at creating a "seamless DRM-enabled digital-content ecosystem across consumer devices," according to ARM's GM of embedded software, Lance Howarth.
Both DRM schemes rely on ARM's TrustZone security extensions, which are available as IP (intellectual property) or built into the ARM1176JZ-S and Cortex-A8 processor cores. Both can be used to implement network virus protection, VPNs, or DRM schemes, the companies say, and both target mobile phones, PDAs, and set-top boxes. Both support Windows CE, Linux, and Symbian. And, both are said to comply with OMA DRMv2 guidelines.
Teleca/Philips DRM offering
The combined Teleca/Philips DRM offering comprises a "LifeVibes Trust 2.1 OMA DRM V2" module engineered by Philips, and integrated with Teleca's "Obigo Q05A" product suite of mobile applications. According to Teleca, Obigo is hardware and platform independent and has been integrated into "almost every available application platform and operating system used in mobile phones," including Windows Mobile.
Philips CEO Cees Geel stated, "The flow of content between personal media devices and PCs continues to increase, and adding the support for ARM technology to our DRM products will offer the industry a simple and secure solution to ensure that consumers can access content easily on any device under control of DRM."
Howarth adds, "Philips mobile DRM software [has] minimal impact to power consumption, performance and size."
Beep Science offering
Beep Science's "OMA DRM Agent" product also complies with OMA's DRMv2 guidelines, the Norway- and Hungary-based company claims. VP of business development Markku Mehtala stated, "Strong content protection technology enables high-quality content rights to be secured and ensures that digital content can be shared freely and securely across mobile phones, PCs, and other consumer electronics."
Analysis
DRM schemes are unpopular with consumers, and seen as limiting rights granted by "fair use" copyright law. Close integration of DRM with general-purpose hardware has also been criticized as inherently insecure.
However, analyst firm Parks Associates, thinks DRM could find acceptance at last on mobile phones, given opportunites for industry-wide standardization through organizations such as OMA.
Additionally, reseacher In-Stat suggests that carriers have been missing out on music download revenues due to failure to achieve cooperation with the music industry on copyright protection issues.
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