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 For several years now in the NFL coaches have gone wireless on the sidelines, and quarterbacks have plays called into their helmets. But, for Major League Baseball, the old-fashion landline handset from the dugout to the bullpen has remained a constant and technologically outdated. But on Tuesday, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, that changed.
That’s because the league announced that T-Mobile is now the Official Wireless Sponsor of MLB as the two entered into a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership. With it, ballparks are going to begin being outfitted with new wireless systems.
Under the agreement, T-Mobile will provide MLB with a new On-Field Communication System, powered by T-Mobile’s nationwide network technology. The first use of this technology will be in a wireless voice system connecting managers in select Major League dugouts to coaches in bullpens. This dugout-to-bullpen system will start to roll out in 2013 and the new On-Field Communication System solution will offer greater mobility as well as options for future innovation within the game.
To add, the agreement will have T-Mobile also tapping its nationwide 4G network, currently available in 229 metro areas, reaching more than 220 million people, to further enhance and broaden network coverage and connectivity for fans in MLB ballparks.
Here’s how the new system will work:
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Source: Major League Baseball, T-Mobile
 Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He writes for Baseball Prospectus and is a contributor to Forbes. He is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).
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