Mobile phones capable of displaying digital TV are now available in Japan.

Although the world has seen this type of service before, Japan is the only place where the service could go mainstream. Japan currently has more subscribers than any other country.

Finding these compatible phones has proven difficult as not many have been manufactured.

For a limited time, the service will be freely transmitted as a test ran by mobile operators wishing to asses to potential and possible number of subscribers for the service.

Most broadcasters including Nippon Television, TV Asahi and Fuji Television have already signed with mobile operators.

“In the short-term, digital terrestrial broadcasting on mobiles with the same programming as normal televisions will be of little interest for us,” said NTT DoCoMo’s CEO Masao Nakamura.

“But we are getting ready by preparing new specific content for the service that could come into use later when new channels are available.”  

No figures have been disclosed as of late, yet handset dealers selling compatible phones claim sales have been good.

The average mobile phone can display 3 hours of digital TV with a regular battery.