UK mobile network EE has teamed up with BT to launch a new immersive AR sports viewing experience users that harnesses the powers of 5G, and iPhone 12 owners will be among the first to benefit.
Apple’s recent iPhone 12 announcement featured 5G prominently as the phone’s major addition. Now companies like EE and BT are lining up to make the most of this 5G push.
Match Day Experience is now available to EE customers when they sign up for a new iPhone 12 on a Full Works plan. It’s accessed through the existing BT Sport App, which already gives you interactive timelines and multi-cam replays while watching sports broadcasts.
In addition to these features, Match Day Experience enables fans to watch, see and chat with three other friends alongside their BT broadcast. They will also be able to watch 360-degree broadcasts in better quality than ever, all courtesy of 5G’s speed and low latency.
Match Day Live allows fans to bring up AR representations of team line-ups, formations and in-game stats, while Stadium Experience utilises AR to lead you behind the scenes into the depths of the arena. Again, all this can be achieved over 5G, without the need of a Wi-Fi connection.
EE is also promising support for Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional audio later in the year, which will give you all the sounds of the stadium on your phone. Finally, there’s Manager Mode, which gives you the option of displaying real-time graphics such as mini-map player tracking right there on the pitch.
The first Match Day Experience broadcast was the West Ham United v Manchester City Premier League football match held on October 24. Select features will be made available during various UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Emirates FA Cup, and Gallagher Premiership Rugby events throughout the season.
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand said: “At this moment of social distancing and crowd-less stadia, Match Day Experience gets fans closer than ever to the sports they love. The features build on what is already the best sports App anywhere and will enable EE customers to enjoy the most immersive sports broadcasts seen to date.”
Jon has nine years experience of writing and editing copy for leading publications, as well as attending technology shows and events and conducting interviews. Currently working with 5G.co.uk, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, T3, Digital Spy, What Mobile, Pocket Gamer, and The Gadget Show.
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