V Cast -- Engadget Mobile

v cast posts

V CAST Video comes to Verizon's BlackBerry Storm

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 21st 2009 @ 11:23AM

If you want to watch live hockey games played by NHL teams not owned by RIM's Jim Balsillie -- that would be all of them, by the way -- you need look no further than the warm glow of your Storm's display now that Verizon has brought its V CAST Video service to the device. Starting today, users will be able to download a dedicated VCAST Video application to their Storms, bringing a host of feature-length and live programming that makes us thank our lucky stars for high-limit data plans. Sure, it'll set you back $10 a month and kill productivity -- but isn't wasting money and time what life is really all about?

ABC / ESPN content lands on Verizon's V CAST

by Darren Murph posted Jan 26th 2009 @ 11:22PM

Statistics don't lie, but they aren't stopping Verizon Wireless from inking a new deal with Disney / ABC Television Group and ESPN in order to bring more watchable content to its V CAST service. Starting today, a so-called "comprehensive portfolio of news, entertainment and sports video programming, including full-length episodes of shows from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel, as well as content from ESPN, will be available to Verizon Wireless V CAST Video and Mobile Web customers." The agreement covers mobile distribution of on-demand, full-length episodes to V CAST Video, and if you're looking for a taste of what you can expect, try Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Lost and The Suite Life on Deck. So, interested in V CAST Video now? No? Okay.

Verizon fattens VCAST service, offers full-length episodes of The Office, CSI, and more

by Sean Cooper posted Sep 11th 2008 @ 2:09PM

What's better than kicking back and watching your favorite shows from the comfort of home? Well, TV on your phone ain't, in fact, it's only remotely close because of the novelty factor, which fades in a day or two. Though Verizon, undaunted, has seen fit to beef up its VCAST service with plenty of new titles to keep somebody happy. Full episodes of 30 Rock, The Office, CSI, Numb3rs, The Hills are yours If you're willing to drop $3 for a 24 hr timeslice or $15 for a monthly V Cast VPak package. Follow the link for the rest of the info.

Watch the 24 most obscure NCAA bowl games on Verizon's V Cast

by Thomas Ricker posted Dec 18th 2007 @ 8:21AM

Are you ready for some football? How about full-length, live coverage of 24 NCAA bowl games. Sounds good, right? Just forget about big screen HDTV though, this is MediaFLO on your itty bitty cellphone display. Fanatics (in every sense of the word) will have access to games provided by ESPN Mobile TV, CBS Mobile and FOX Mobile through Verizon's V CAST Mobile TV. Unfortunately, none of the BCS Championship games will be available on the service. You will however have access to Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, the Meinke Car Care Bowl, and Papa John's.com bowl to name just a few. "Must see" games Verizon -- really?

Specifications of Verizon's LG Voyager outed

by Darren Murph posted Nov 1st 2007 @ 12:57AM

Counting down the hours until the Voyager makes an appearance on Verizon? If so, here's something sure to tide you over. Apparently, the handset's datasheet has made its way onto the intarweb, and it's got just about every detail you could ever want -- save for a price and pinpointed release date, of course. Highlights include a 2.81-inch external touchscreen, VibeTouch tactile feedback support, V CAST Mobile TV, dual integrated speakers, a two-megapixel camera, microSD expansion slot and VZ Navigator preloaded. If you've undoubtedly got this one on your must-have list, hit the read link and eat your heart out.

[Via MobilitySite]

Motorola Z6tv gets detailed and priced by Verizon

by Sean Cooper posted Sep 24th 2007 @ 2:29PM

After having been through the indignity of an outing by the FCC, a roadmap slip, and subsequent roadmap correction, the Motorola Z6tv finally looks good to go. Verizon has let it slip that the handset will land for $279 on one-year agreement and $229 with two-year -- both feature $50 mail in rebates, to boot. So, there ya have it, look for this handset to be in your local bricks and mortar in the coming weeks, if not sooner. Oh, and hit the read link to pop on over to the Verizon site where all the nitty gritty details are posted for your geeky pleasure.

[Via phoneArena]

Verizon launches Local TV Video on V CAST

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2007 @ 7:02PM

So, the Song ID application a bit too frivolous for your attention? If so, Verizon Wireless is hitting V CAST users up with a solid dose of local news, weather, and sports clips via the recently launched Local TV Video channel. Reportedly available to subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and nearly 50 markets across the country, the channel enables "select V CAST-enabled phones" (read: newer ones) to have easy access to news from local television station affiliates. Of course, we're sure you're eager to know if your handset is capable of tuning in, and moreover, if you're in a market where this is actually available, so be sure and hit the read link for the full skinny on the what's and where's.

[Via mocoNews]

Verizon launches VCAST Song ID

by Sean Cooper posted May 23rd 2007 @ 7:51PM

If you're like us and are forever scribbling sticky notes or text notes on your handset when you hear a song you like -- provided you actually get the title from the radio announcer -- Verizon now has you covered with VCAST Song ID. This free download (yeah, free!) for supported VCAST handsets lets you identify a song by clicking a button, holding it up to the speaker, and then viola! The software will automagically tell you the name of the song, the artist, and even the album name. Of course, this is where the cost bit comes in, if you wish, you are then able to download the track to your handset over the air, or, of course, armed with this free info you can zip home and fire up whatever P2P software makes you happy.

[Via mocoNews]

LG's VX8700 clam launches with Verizon

by Thomas Ricker posted Apr 6th 2007 @ 7:32AM

Prepare to get your shine on VZW customers -- the LG VX8700 is up, pretty, and ready for purchase. As a wink-wink, nudge-nudge in the direction of LG's Shine branding, Verizon calls the new clamshell a "shiny new addition" to their LG lineup. No surprises on the specs: V Cast support, stereo Bluetooth, microSD expansion and 2 megapixel cam. Ink a 2-year deal and she's yours for $179.99 after $50 online discount. Now go get it, the first Shine has arrived Stateside and is exclusive to Verizon.

[Thanks, V-Doc and everyone who sent this in]

MobileESPN lives... on Verizon

by Thomas Ricker posted Feb 8th 2007 @ 8:23AM

MobileESPN is back from the dead sheriff, only this time as a zombied version of its former self. No longer an MVNO, the service for sportos is now limited exclusively to Verizon Wireless subscribers under a new multi-year deal. According to the AP, the deal is not yet finalized but should be announced sometime today with a service launch in "the coming months." And it's free for those of you already ponyed up for VZW's VCAST service and compatible phone. Verizon is also expected to announce later today that the ESPN channel on their MediaFLO-based VCAST TV service will feature much of the same programming you're already familiar with -- albeit, presumably in bite-sized chunks more suitable to TV on the go. This must be what the execs at Verizon had in mind when they passed on the iPhone. Braaaaains, give us your brains!

[Thanks, unfuccwittable]

Move over, YouTube: Verizon hooks up with Revver, too

by Chris Ziegler posted Dec 5th 2006 @ 5:39AM

If Verizon's walled garden of limited YouTube content isn't enough to get you to shell out 15 bones for the requisite V CAST service, how's about they sweeten the pot with some Revver? A Verizon-exclusive deal with the revenue-sharing video site will see V CAST subscribers getting a selection (yeah, a selection -- as in, not all) of Revver's content, refreshed twice a week and "optimized" for the mobile viewing experience. A new "V CAST Collection" area of Revver's site will give users a sneak peek of what they're going to have access to once they're out and about, to boot. Look for Revver content to go live this month, about the same time as the YouTube goodies.

[Via TG Daily]

It's official: YouTube and Verizon ink deal

by Cyrus Farivar posted Nov 28th 2006 @ 4:50PM

Well folks, we told you just over three weeks ago about "advanced talks" between Verizon and YouTube, and it looks like as of today, the two lovebirds have just tied the knot officially. with their joint service will launch next month. However, there are a couple of points to take stock of: first, it's exclusively on Verizon, which means it's going to run on V CAST -- costing you an extra $15 a month, that is, assuming you have a V CAST-capable handset. (According to one analyst, Roger Entner, only about 10 percent of Verizon's 20 million users with such phones have signed up for the service so far.) Second, Verizon's exclusivity is only going to be for "a short time," and it's more than likely that T-Mobile, Sprint, Cingular and friends have already been knocking at YouTube's door. Third, as you probably know, YouTube is a two-way street (you know, that whole "user-generated" thing we've been hearing so much about) and as such, Reuters is reporting that you'll be able to post videos directly from your handset with the use of a "five-digit short code instead of an email address." Finally, the Mercury News points out that you won't have access to all of YouTube, just what Verizon decides that you'll want via its proprietary YouTube channel. So that means you can probably forget about catching episodes of "Ask A Ninja" on your bus ride home. Still, diluted YouTube is better than no YouTube; we can almost hear thousands of freshly-bought VX9900s flipping open to check out the content already.

Read - Reuters
Read - San Jose Mercury News

Verizon in talks to bring YouTube to V CAST, television

by Darren Murph posted Nov 7th 2006 @ 4:49PM

Verizon seems to be throwing as many trendy extras as humanly possible into its (oftentimes overpriced) monthly add-on pool, and may now be nearing a deal with the video clip-broadcasting extraordinaire, YouTube. Not long after announcing a simplistic fee-based system to keep your contact list from being destroyed, Verizon Wireless "is in advanced talks" with YouTube in a deal that would bring the zany segments we all love to your very own mobile screen (and television, too). America's second-place carrier is looking to grab an edge in the marketing department as it hopes to "further its efforts to expand into internet and entertainment services." Under the terms being discussed, V CAST users would have access to YouTube videos for a currently undisclosed price, and Verizon reportedly hopes to "offer YouTube videos as an on-demand feature" while watching TV (FiOS anyone?). YouTube isn't selling the rest of its soul without caution, however, as the deal could end up being exclusive in nature, but only for a limited time. We'll keep you posted on how much "America's most reliable wireless network" plans on bumping your already overwhelming monthly bill should this deal go down.

Verizon Wireless teams up with Bones in Motion to easily track exercise stats

by Darren Murph posted Oct 10th 2006 @ 1:22PM

If you've been delaying the start of that much-needed exercise routine because you can't conjure up the coinage required for an iPod nano and Nike+iPod kit, or if you spent your Apple allowance on a shiny new VX8500 instead, your excuses to procrastinate have come to an end. Verizon Wireless has teamed up with Bones in Motion to offer a downloadable app on select mobiles -- the Samsung SCH-A930 / SCH-A990, LG Chocolate (VX8500), and Motorola's V325 and RAZR V3c / V3m for starters -- which utilizes "GPS tracking technology to continuously monitor speed, distance, calories burned, pace and route." The software even sends goal completion alerts to you for that extra boost of confidence when running solo, and will upload your results to a personalized website for progress monitoring purposes. Additionally, customers can access Runner's World RunTracker system which incorporates the BiM Active data into more detailed reports that can be wirelessly shared with anyone else within the network. If you're concerned over the snazzy software eliminating the ability to hear your V CAST tunes while in motion, fret not, as Verizon made absolutely certain that playing those oh-so-pricey jams in the background wouldn't slow anything down. Unlike Apple's one-and-done solution, the BiM Active program will run you $9.99 per month, or if you just need it for the NYC Marathon, the 24-hour version will set you back $1.99.

[Via Smart Mobs]

Verizon Wireless to end music download fee

by Darren Murph posted Aug 1st 2006 @ 2:38PM

Now that the LG Chocolate has finally launched, Verizon has apparently figured out that charging $15/month for the privilege of visiting the V CAST Music store is probably not such a bright idea. In what appears to be an intentional simultaneous release with the Chocolate phone, V CAST Music is now free to browse -- sure to delight 2-inch-window shoppers everywhere. The monthly fee previously required to access the V CAST VPak, which allowed you to shop for tunes on your mobile, has been nixed. Now anyone with a "V CAST Music-enabled" device can download tracks to their cellphone at the current rate of $1.99/song (or $0.99 if downloaded to a Windows XP-based PC). The $1.99 downloads contain two songs: one for the phone and one for the PC, but songs downloaded directly to the PC can be transferred to the mobile free of charge (Verizon, making things easy?). While it might seem a tad ridiculous that such a fee was charged in the past, at least Verizon is headed in the right direction here, and who wouldn't be excited about having to "only" pay $1.99 for a single?

[Via Mobiledia]