AT&T is to launch a live mobile TV service in the US in May, following in the footsteps of rival Verizon Wireless which has offered a similar service in major US cities since the middle of last year.

Like Verizon's, the AT&T service will use Qualcomm's MediaFlo network. AT &T has not announced the price of the service, but has stated that it will be available on two new handsets: LG's Vu and Samsung's Access.

AT&T signed an agreement with MediaFlo in February last year and originally said that the service would be rolled out at the end of 2007.

Consumers have been slow to adopt mobile TV. Few companies that provide the services are willing to talk specifically about subscriber numbers or hours viewed.

Mobile market analysts attribute consumer reluctance to high prices, and cultural factors including mobile handsets not being a natural device on which to watch broadcast TV.

The move will also put the US out of step with Europe, which has adopted the DVB-H standard for mobile television.