SPB Software has announced that the 2.0 version of their TV VOD software for Windows Mobile is now free for everybody. This will probably piss off all the existing users who have already payed to use the product but if you haven’t yet, just head up to the company’s website to download the latest version which includes a couple of new features:

SPB Software, a leading mobile software developer, has updated the Windows Mobile version of its flagship application SPB TV to version 2.0. Due to advertising revenues support the program is now free-of-charge and subscription-free. Ads featured in SPB TV only last as long as channel buffering takes and therefore preserve the best user experience.

In addition to the existing features that include quick channel previews, a TV guide for more than 150 offered channels in more than 20 languages, picture-in-picture mode, fast channel launching and switching, the new version offers also a video on demand (VOD) option. With this new feature the users can control what they are watching and when. Unlike broadcast TV, VOD provides greater choice and interactivity.

Another significant enhancement is the Advanced Video Codec (H.264) support which improves video quality. As a result even with substantial lower bitrates the resolution is strongly improved. SPB TV 2.0 also allows to watch TV with low speed mobile network connections.

- Integrated TV Guide with the list of current and upcoming TV-shows
- Unique browser with fast channels launch and switching
- Quick channel preview (picture-in-picture mode)
- On-Screen Control Panel
- Video on Demand
- Setting a Reminder
- Video Quality Switcher
- Advanced Video Codec support

The only downside to this software is the channel selection which is mainly composed of non-English broadcasts (it has been update with some new channels thought. But I can’t wait to see what SPB can do with Windows Phone 7.