14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless carrier Verizon, second-biggest in the US, has launched its Mobile TV service in 20 US markets. Finally, all details regarding price and availability are now out, and while rumors and leaks revealed quite a lot of information, we couldn't take anything for granted until the carrier officially released the service.
According to spokesman Jeff Nelson, the picture quality of the new service would be on a par with home TV and roughly twice as clear as Verizon's existing V CAST video service.
Up until now, mobile TV services haven't really been all that popular, because of their low quality and high prices. In fact, according to Roger Etner, Ovum analyst, out of 232 million subscribers, as little as 7 million customers are mobile video service users.
Better picture quality and a lower price is very likely to change that. Etner also estimated that MediaFLO users could increase to about 20-30 million within the next 7 years.
Along with the service, Verizon is offering a Samsung U620 handset at $199 or $149.99 for customers that are willing to sign a 2 year contract. The wireless carrier is also planning to add a LG phone to its V CAST Mobile TV service compatible devices list in a couple of weeks.
The service is available for $15 a month and includes 8 channels that broadcast full-length TV shows 24h a day. Users can also pick the Select plan. For $25 a month, aside from the 8 channels, you can also enjoy unlimited access to the V CAST service, video clips, music and mobile web.
The service is said to be available in cities such as Chicago; New Orleans; Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Las Vegas; Tucson, Arizona; Kansas City; Dallas-Forth Worth; and Salt Lake City.