Verizon today showed off its attempt at a TV Everywhere offering — which would allow subscribers to its internet/TV/phone bundle service FiOS to access content on screens other than their televisions. It’s working on both an iPad application that would let users view live TV and a video-on-demand (VOD) offering for computers and mobile devices, reports NewTeeVee.
The iPad app, which Verizon expects to release early next year, will let users view the same live content that’s available on their televisions. It will only work within customers’ home networks at first, so that Verizon can properly authenticate its users. Since the app uses the same software that Verizon implements in its set-top boxes, it believes it already has the rights to stream content to iPads, since they’re simply another screen.
According to Verizon CIO Shaygan Kheradpir, the technology behind the app is pretty much done, and the company is currently in discussions with content partners to make sure they’re comfortable with streaming content to the iPad. He said the app won’t be released until all of its partners are on board.
Verizon is also gearing up to revamp the VOD experience for its users. Soon they will be able to purchase and rent content via their set-top box or Verizon.com, and watch it on up to five PCs and mobile devices. At launch, Verizon’s new VOD will support the Droid X, Droid 2, Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, and the BlackBerry Storm. It plans to eventually offer iPhone support, and I’m assuming we’ll see even more Android devices, as well as Windows Phone 7 devices, supported.
It’s an interesting time to be a media addict. Comcast and Time Warner are pursuing a TV Everywhere initiative of their own, which also includes HBO’s Go service, and we recently covered Dish Network’s plan to bring live TV to the iPad and mobile devices as well. Soon cable and satellite customers will expect access to media outside of their TVs as a given, and that’s honestly a future I can’t wait for.
Image via NewTeeVee
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