MultiChoice finally shuttering DStv Mobile in South Africa at the end of October as transmitters for DVB-H are turned off.

MultiChoice is finally shuttering its obsolete DStv Mobile service in South Africa at the end of October similar to what it has been doing in Kenya and other African countries recently.

MultiChoice is dumping its DStv DVB-H mobile pay-TV service with the outdated and obsolete DStv Walka and DStv Drifta going dodo.

The DVB-H service - the "H" standing for handset - is getting shut down on 31 October 2018, 11 years after DStv Mobile was launched in 2007 in South Africa.

MultiChoice says when it launched DStv Mobile the technology was new but "over the last few years technology has evolved as broadband access continues to grow. It’s not feasible to continue to maintain a separate land-based, dedicated network for this service alone, when an even better service can be offered to our customers on DStv Now through the internet and WiFi".

MultiChoice already started shutting down transmitters so existing DStv Mobile subscribers who have been paying R49 per month for the service are not guaranteed to still get it until the end of the month with MultiChoice offering them R500 Takealot coupons.

DStv Mobile subscribers are encouraged to dump their obsolete Drifta and Walka devices at MultiChoice branches in Randburg, Durban and Cape Town or at DStv agencies where there are recycling bins.

Walka 7 handheld portable TV device with a 7 inch screen unveiled by DStv Mobile; going on sale for R900 from October.

DStv Mobile, the mobile television division of pay-TV platform MultiChoice, has unveiled its new Walka 7, its latest amazing-looking handheld portable TV device with a seven inch screen.

It will go on sale from October at at cost of R900 and will be available from MultiChoice centres and certain retailers. The Walka 7 comes with a mini USB cable for charging the battery, a USB charger, a stand and of course a much bigger screen than the DStv Walka.

Coverage for the device to work and for a user to see DStv television is within the nine major cities of South Africa. DStv Premium subscribers who buy a Walka 7 (similar to the DStv Walka) receive TV for free on the device on their existing DStv account.

Like Apple, DStv Mobile can basically do no wrong as a massive and ever increasing number of South African consumers are falling in love with handheld and digital devices.

Once again the unveiling of the Walka 7 as the commercial Christmas retail period starts from Monday, is priming and placing DStv Mobile in the perfect position with this new handheld TV device to cash in on consumers who like functional gadgets with a good value proposition.

"The massive growth in new technologies seen both locally and across Africa has shown consumers' readiness and appetite for innovative intuitive devices like the Walka 7," says Mark Rayner, the CEO of DStv Mobile in a press statement issued a day after Wednesday's Johannesburg launch event. DStv Mobile is punting the device as having "a larger screen and improved battery life".

The Walka 7 which follows the Walka, Drifta, Drifta USB and the recently unveiled iDrifta, also comes with an antenna that can be extended vertically to improve reception.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. DStv Walka device is light-weight, feels cool; and a compact square of television you can carry in your pocket.

Last month on a specially guided tour inside MultiChoice in Randburg, I was allowed to see one and actually touch one - the new DStv Walka that's on sale from the beginning of December.

Touching this nifty new device - a separate, light-weight,  actual little TV screen that's portable and on which you can watch the DStv Mobile TV channels - gave me the same kind of feeling as when you hold an iPad or other flattish-paddish device: you kind of feel so ''content-controlling''. You really feel that you have ''TV on the go'' with a thin, light-weight and compact square of television you can carry around on your pocket.

The DStv Walka is very light, nice and compact, the screen could be bigger but there's probably reasons for it, and the screen nice and bright. I only had a minute with it, but my first impressions of the DStv Walka device was that it's very, very cool. Also it's plug and play so no installations and stuffs are necessary. I can see this device doing very well and probably surpassing DStv Drifta sales.

You can put the thing in your pocket like a cellphone and take it to the wedding, or the shopping mall, watch while you're waiting for your food at the reataurant, or have kids watch it in the car while you drive - if you're in a city and DStv Mobile's reception and coverage area the DStv Walka is definitely now the best of the DStv Mobile devices to have with you if you want to make sure you get the sport or the news or something you can see on one of the available channels but have to leave your house.

I asked a few questions about the DStv Walka. The DStv Walka is produced by the same place making the DStv Drifta devices for MultiChoice and DStv Mobile - Valups in South Korea (did I mention how remarkably light-weight the thing feels?).

With a full charge the battery of the DStv Walka will last you 3,5 hours - of course chargeable by USB as well.

''The Walka is unique in that no connection is required to other devices to view,'' DStv Mobile tells me. ''We hope it will increase usability of DStv Mobile as the Walka is a dedicated device. Its an easy to use device, it can fit into anybody's lifestyle, it appeals to a wider range of people because of no additional device being required. With the Drifta and Drifta USB other devices are required to view and this may pose as a limitation to certain potential customers. With the Walka TV, this is not the case, once the device is activated, viewing can begin right away.

I also asked about the screen size and how that was decided upon. ''A 3.5'' screen is large enough for a an enhanced mobile TV viewing experience and comfortable enough to be portable,'' says DStv Mobile, telling me that the company decided on this version because its easiest to use.