Verizon Wireless streams broadband
Wireless service provider launches video, television and 3D gaming services for its mobile customers.
Vcast will deliver on-demand television, 3D games, music videos and news, the company said. The service is available for phones hooked to the company's EV-DO (evolution data optimized) network, currently available in 30 major markets.
For $15 a month, customers will be able to access 300 daily updated video clips of news, sports, weather and entertainment content. Customers will have to pay for downloading 3D games, premium content such as music videos and applications under the "Get It Now" plan.
Wireless carriers are looking at video on cell phones as a new way of boosting revenue. According to market analyst In-Stat, mobile video services in the United States generated $32.7 million in revenue in 2004.
Among the content providers Verizon has signed up are NBC, CNN, MarketWatch, ESPN, Fox Sports, VH1 and Comedy Central. The video clips will be refreshed throughout the day and will be between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, Verizon said.
The content can be viewed on new phones from LG, Samsung and UTStarcom, the wireless provider said. LG's VX8000 phone features full-motion short content with audio streaming, downloading and playback facilities. It costs $199 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement. Samsung's a890 is available for $249, and the CDM8940 from UTStarcom is priced at $229--both after a $70 rebate with a two-year customer agreement.