A Verizon YouTube Exclusive

Access to YouTube from your mobile phone is starting to become a standard feature. There are even plans for YouTube specific phones from LG and Samsung. And since YouTube launched their mobile website, m.youtube.com, you can pretty much get to Youtube from any phone on any carrier.

It's great to be able to view videos from your phone, but in the midst of all the YouTube craze, Verizon has become the first carrier to allow users to upload videos to the website directly from their phones via a text message. Verizon subscribers just need to update their YouTube accounts with their mobile numbers. After that, users can post their video clips by sending a message to YTUBE (98823). There is no charge for the service besides messaging fees.

The Chocolate by LG - New and Improved

The new Chocolate by LG is pretty much the same as its predecessor. It is a little thinner and lighter than the original. The phone is 3.85"x1.87"x0.67" and weighs only 3.24 oz. It still has a 1.3 megapixels camera and EV-DO support. Some of the new features include an upgraded external navigation wheel, a vibrating touch keypad, and microSD slot that supports up to a 4 GB card.

The new Chocolate will be available in three colors - Black, Black Cherry, and Blue Mint. It will be available from Verizon on July 9th. Pricing is not available at this time.

Verizon Introduces Plans Including Mobile Email

Verizon just introduced several new plans that include data applications in addition to just voice minutes. The plans include unlimited messaging, the VCAST VPak, VZ Navigator, and Mobile E-mail. Unlimited messaging allows users to send text, picture, video, and IM messages to any domestic network. VZ Navigator is a location based service using GPS to give turn by turn directions as well as locate points of interest. Mobile E-mail provides access to up to 10 email accounts from services such as Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail. VCAST VPak gives users access to entertainment options such as video clips, news, sports, games, and unlimited web access.

The new plans start at $79.99 for 450 minutes and go up to $239.99 for 6000 minutes. A compatible phone is necessary to take advantage of all the features offered.

Verizon Ready for iPhone

Verizon is looking to combat the launch of the iPhone by keeping it's retail stores open late on Friday, June 29th - the launch date of the iPhone. Verizon is also looking to lure music phone buyers by offering a free "Music Essentials Kit" to those who purchase the LG VX9400. The kit includes stereo headsets, a cable for transferring songs from a PC, and a 2 GB memory card capable of holding up to 1,000 songs.

Get Prince's New Song for FREE

Prince is releasing "Guitar", his new single off of his upcoming album "Planet Earth". The single is available for download free via Verizon's Vcast Song ID offering. With the Song ID offering, Vcast subscribers can use certain Verizon phones to recognize a song by playing the song near a handset. Once Song ID recognizes the song, it will display the song for full track download along with other options such as downloading ringtones and ringback tones. You will also have the option to click to view similar music.

Verizon Now Selling BlackBerry 8830

The BlackBerry 8830 is now available from Verizon. This is the first global CDMA device from BlackBerry. It retails for $399, but is available for either $299 or $199 based on rebates and plans chosen. The device is expected to be available from Sprint sometime in June/July.

Phonepotential.com first reviewed the device back in April. (Read Article)

Verizon 1st Quarter Results

Verizon reported their 1st quarter results, again outpacing the competition in subscriber additions and keeping an industry low churn.

Net Additions = 1.7 million (1.6 million of which are direct customers)
Total Churn = 1.08% (drop from 1.2% this quarter last year)
ARPU (Avg. Revenue Per User) = $50.73 (4.2% increase year over year)
Data ARPU = $8.95 (54% increase year over year)
Wireless Revenues = $10.3 billion (increase of 17%)

Verizon ended the quarter with 60.7 million subscribers, just shy of Cingular's 62.2 million subscribers.

BlackBerry 8830

The BlackBerry 8830 is the CDMA version of the 8800 which is currently available from GSM carriers Cingular and T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint will both carry the 8830 starting this summer. Verizon will have it in May and Sprint is planning to have it available in June or July.

The device is a quad band device so it will be able to work overseas, making it BlackBerry's first CDMA device that will work internationally. It will also have a media player, a MicroSD slot, Bluetooth, full QWERTY keyboard, and built-in GPS.

Although Sprint will be the last carrier to launch the device, it will be worth the wait to hold off getting it from the other carriers. The reason is the phone will be unlocked from Sprint, while it is locked with other carriers. When traveling internationally with a Cingular 8800 or a Verizon 8830, you will be required to use the carrier's SIM card, meaning you will incur international roaming rates. Sprint gives you the option to use the SIM card of a local in country carrier, meaning you will be charged local per minute rates versus international roaming rates. This represents substantial cost savings for the international traveler. One caveat is that if you wish to keep the same number internationally, you will need to use the Sprint SIM card, incurring Sprint international roaming rates.

One cool feature about the MicroSD slot is it is located inside the battery cover. This makes it impossible to accidentally pop out and difficult to be stolen. The bad to this, is it won't be easily accessible, but security is key here.

Still missing from the 8830 is a camera/video recorder. Again, security is the reason for this.

Mobile ESPN Lives On Through Verizon

The defunct MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) known as Mobile ESPN has found a new life with Verizon Wireless. As an MVNO, Mobile ESPN called it quits in less than a year after gaining only 30,000 subscribers in a 9 month timeframe. Mobile ESPN will no longer operate as an MVNO. Instead it will act as a content provider. Mobile ESPN content will be available to subscribers of Verizon’s Vcast service (currently $15 per month). By downloading the Mobile ESPN application, users will have access to exclusive ESPN content including fantasy team management, video clips, and video of ESPN produced shows like Sportscenter, Cold Pizza, and Pardon the Interruption. When Verizon launches live TV service, Mobile ESPN is expected to be a channel.

The agreement between ESPN and Verizon is a multi-year exclusive agreement. This is noted since the Mobile ESPN MVNO service was provided using Sprint’s network. Sprint even went as far as offering the Mobile ESPN phone through its retail channels before ESPN called it quits. Although terms of the agreement were not disclosed, based on ESPN’s ruthless dealings with the cable companies, I assume this came down to a price issue, where Verizon agreed to fork over more cash than Sprint.

Verizon Adds Additional EV-DO Markets

Verizon has expanded it EVDO coverage to include portions of Alabama and Louisiana.
The latest service launch in Alabama covers the Greater Tuscaloosa area as well as the University of Alabama. Tuscaloosa follows other recent launches in the state. The EV-DO network also is up and running in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery, Ala.

In Louisiana, the carrier expanded its EV-DO coverage to include Hammond. Verizon Wireless launched wireless broadband coverage in New Orleans in early 2004 and expanded the wireless broadband coverage area to include most of the North Shore in June of 2005.

The service launches give subscribers access to Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess and V CAST services. With regard to the Hammond launch, Verizon says the upgrade will strengthen the carrier during emergencies. Earlier this week, Verizon Wireless extended the reach of its high-speed wireless network into more parts of Ohio. The latest rollout covered Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties and Sandusky. The carrier calculates that its EV-DO network now covers about 200 million people in the United States.

Source: www.wirelessweek.com

Verizon Increases Cost of Text Messages

Verizon has increased the cost to send and receive text messages. The new rate is $.15 per inbound/outbound message, five cents increase from the old rate of $.10. The price increase becomes effective on March 1st and will not apply to those customers who subscribe to a text messaging plan. As Sprint did, Verizon will allow subscribers who are not on a text messaging plan to opt out of their contracts without having to pay an early termination fee.

Verizon joins both Sprint and Cingular, who increased their text messaging prices at the end of last year. T-Mobile is the last of the Big 4 carriers to still charge $.10 per message.

Verizon Inks Deal with NHL

Verizon Wireless announced a multi-year deal to become the “official wireless service provider” of the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association in the United States. As part of the deal, Verizon Wireless will have exclusive marketing and promotional rights to NHL events, including the All-Star Game, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Awards Show and Entry Draft.

Through the new partnership, Verizon Wireless will have a significant presence on NBC, enabling new online and in-store advertising and marketing promotions. For its part, the NHL will receive prime positioning on the Verizon Wireless main deck. The carrier will also provide its customers with NHL game video highlights and NHL wallpapers, images and ringtones.

“Verizon Wireless customers can now show their love of hockey, their team and favorite players with their phones, giving the NHL and NHLPA another way to extend their relationship with fans beyond the ice,” said John Harrobin, vice president of digital media and advertising for Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Announces Vcast TV

As expected, Verizon Wireless has officially announced its mobile TV service. V Cast TV uses Qualcomm's MediaFLO technology to provide broadcast TV to US consumers for the first time. The service will launch later in the first quarter, but Verizon has already revealed some specifics.
Content partners include MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, NBC News, NBC Entertainment, CBS and Fox. ESPN is currently under negotiation and showed up on the demo handsets but wasn't in the official anouncement.

Programs are carried "live" but Verizon Wireless is putting an emphasis on the "best of TV" so while the prime time line ups might sync up there might be a replay of CSI on in the morning instead of a game show. The content is long form so it's the entire show, news cast or sports game. There will be commercials in the content just like there is on conventional TV and in many cases you will see the same ads (for national runs) but Verizon is also looking at selling their own more like a cable provider. Qualcomm had previously talked about time shifting content with MediaFLO but this won't be part of the V Cast TV launch.

There will be two handsets available at launch: the Samsung u620 and the LG VX9400. Both phones feature a dedicated TV button and the ability to view video in landscape. More V Cast TV handsets are expected to be announced later in the year. While pricing has not yet been announced there will be an extra fee in addition to the regular V Cast fee. CEO Denny Strigl hinted that the price, "Will be affordable" but offered no more details. One spokesman joked that the handsets will be priced to sell and not to admire.