Can You Watch Me Now? Verizon Wireless’ V CAST TV Network
As the Consumer Electronics Show gets rolling in Vegas, this year’s big news on the wireless side appears to be the marriage of TV with cell phones.
We’ve already tipped you off to Samsung’s technology that would allow TV broadcasters to reach specially-equipped wireless phones with their existing digital broadcasts. Now we’re hearing all about Verizon Wireless’ V CAST TV network. And Samsung is playing a role in Verizon’s announcement as well, just keep reading.
Verizon’s offering will use MediaFLO wireless video technology to provide the “best of TV”. But not just clips this time. We’re talking entire episodes of programs from MTV, Nickelodeon, NBC, CBS and Fox. ESPN and other network providers will likely join in by the time this service actually launches, sometime before the end of March.
Prime time shows will actually run in prime time, at the same time they’re available to home viewers. Some of those shows will then be rerun several times, into the next day. There will be commercials - sometimes the same commercials that home viewers see, sometimes not. The capability to time-shift programs with your phone will not be available, at least not at the launch.
Two different handsets - the LG VX9400 (pictured) and the Samsung u620 - will be the first offerings capable of receiving V CAST TV network shows. They’ll both have screens that let you watch in widescreen (landscape) format.
Pricing is not being announced, although Verizon makes clear that access to the V CAST TV Network will cost extra, on top of VZW’s current V CAST plans.
Verizon Wireless, V CAST TV Network, LG, Samsung, NBC, ESPN, Fox, MTV, Nickelodeon, CBS
[via Verizon Wireless, Phone News]
January 8th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
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February 17th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
i want the cell cause i really like this one it looks cool..