After several months of delays, AT&T is planning to begin offering its AT&T Mobile TV in May in a move that stands in sharp contrast to its success with Apple's iPhone, which has been widely hailed for its video offerings.

The new AT&T service, which initially will launch on two handsets and with two exclusive channels, utilizes Qualcomm's MediaFlo technology, which has been used by Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV and other service providers internationally.

"AT&T Mobile TV is a powerful new mobile entertainment offering, which will give our customers a formidable lineup of sports, news, and prime-time shows," said Mark Collins, VP of consumer data for AT&T's wireless unit, in a statement. The MediaFlo network has been setting up sporadically across the United States while it waits for more spectrum space to be cleared by the FCC in early 2009.

AT&T said its offering will include programming from CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2GO, NBC News2GO, and Nickelodeon.

The handsets that initially will headline the AT&T service are LG's Vu and Samsung's Access. The VU has a large interactive touch screen with music player, digital camera, and Bluetooth technology included. The Samsung handset has similar features in addition to external stereo speakers for multimedia applications.

Verizon, which released its V Cast Mobile TV service last March, worked to capitalize on AT&T's delay and this week noted that its service, also based on MediaFlo, includes more than 150 broadcast-quality programs. V Cast is offered on four handsets supplied through Verizon.