Photos: Inside BT's world of innovation

BT was also keen to show off the patented Push-to-TV compression technology it has developed to re-proportion video from the TV set to the mobile screen, or vice-versa.

As with the Slingbox, users can access the BT Vision box’s signal from their handset and re-route it to their small screen. However, unlike the Slingbox system, this Java-based application is network-aware and compresses the picture according to the means of connection, i.e. GPRS, 3G or Wi-Fi, which BT says will ensure a consistent user experience whatever the viewing device.

The application also turns the user's standard mobile phone into a remote control for their Vision box.

As with many of the technologies on display in the Innovation at the Speed of Life showcase, Push-to-TV is at the concept stage rather than ready for the market.