Verizon Wireless Mobile TV March 1 New VCAST service prepped for launch Tuesday Feb 27 2007 15:38 EDT RCR Wireless, by simply checking out the Verizon Wireless coverage map, observes that Verizon will be offering VCAST Mobile TV starting March 1. Verizon has been quickly rattling off a long list of markets that have been upgraded to faster (and lower latency) EVDO Revision A technology, which should make their TV offerings a bit snappier. Of course, it should be noted that the Verizon Wireless TOS say you aren't allowed to use devices like the Slingbox to watch TV on Verizon Wireless mobile phones (users do it anyway). These restrictions are imposed with the justification that bandwidth is being protected, but also act to steer customers away from competing services -- behavior that has increasingly annoyed network neutrality advocates. |
wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
VCAST SucksI never understood why people would pay VZ (or anyone) $20 per month in addition to their phone bill for this crap. Ring tones?? Movie clips?? VZ specific content?? I can only imagine that VCAST TV will be more canned garbage, as opposed to real time TV. | |
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Re: VCAST Sucks$20 a month means you can use data and get it now unlimited, without airtime charges. It means I can watch TV from 7am to 6:59am the next morning, everyday, and only pay $20, it also means I can browse the web the same time, and only flat rate $20. I think it's a great plan.
That said, I didn't keep it because my usage wasn't enough, and VCAST videos sucked. I wanted live TV. I might sign back up, so I can sit at work and watch TV. I could actually use it for once. This is nice.
P.S. You can use that $20 internet service like a "DSL Lite" package, as it is about as fast as DSL. It is fast enough to allow VoIP calls to go thru, I found that out. | |
| | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST SucksVCast charges are in addition to your data charges in most cases, and thats why its a rip off. | |
| | | | Jonbo298 join:2004-01-12 Council Bluffs, IA |
Re: VCAST SucksUhhh....what? By seeing below, you are obviously a Sprint user who doesn't understand Verizon's VCast.
VCast doesn't go against your minute usage for data, thus you can't be charged for data. If you download any non-free music videos or ringtones/games/wallpapers you are charged obviously. Same with sprint.
If you have some PDA with a data plan, thats most likely different. But since I don't intend to own a PDA in the near/long term, those kind of things don't affect me nor need to remember. | |
| | | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by Jonbo298:Uhhh....what? By seeing below, you are obviously a Sprint user who doesn't understand Verizon's VCast. VCast doesn't go against your minute usage for data, thus you can't be charged for data. If you download any non-free music videos or ringtones/games/wallpapers you are charged obviously. Same with sprint. If you have some PDA with a data plan, thats most likely different. But since I don't intend to own a PDA in the near/long term, those kind of things don't affect me nor need to remember. Yes I am a Sprint user and I am also a PDA phone user. Both would have been clear if you read my comments. I understand how Vcast works, and my point was that it is a rip off to pay for both data and Vcast, as both can be independent services. | |
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Re: VCAST SucksYou don't pay for data on VCAST silly. Read your contract/their TOS. I had that package and used the data all hours of the day. At the end of the month, my 450 minutes airtime was never touched, and I did not get any data charges. This included browsing webpages on both the phone, and laptop, and included also watching a ton of VCAST clips. VCAST (Get it Now package) is UNLIMITED DATA, NO AIRTIME FEES APPLICABLE. I wish people wouldn't post without either having the service, or knowing for sure the charges. The $5 a month internet they have charges you by airtime (per minute) but the $20 VCAST doesn't. | |
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to phattieg
Don't expect to watch CSI, American Idol or any other regular TV show. "Live TV" means special mobile channels like ESPN that will not have the same content as regular TV. | |
| | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by rickonline:Don't expect to watch CSI, American Idol or any other regular TV show. "Live TV" means special mobile channels like ESPN that will not have the same content as regular TV. Thats why I have a Slingbox and I use Sprint. | |
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| nixenRockin' the Boxen Premium Member join:2002-10-04 Alexandria, VA |
to wifi4milez
said by wifi4milez:I never understood why people would pay VZ (or anyone) $20 per month in addition to their phone bill for this crap. Ring tones?? Movie clips?? VZ specific content?? I can only imagine that VCAST TV will be more canned garbage, as opposed to real time TV. Real time TV is garbage. This is just another place for it to be spewed. -tom | |
| | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by nixen:said by wifi4milez:I never understood why people would pay VZ (or anyone) $20 per month in addition to their phone bill for this crap. Ring tones?? Movie clips?? VZ specific content?? I can only imagine that VCAST TV will be more canned garbage, as opposed to real time TV. Real time TV is garbage. This is just another place for it to be spewed. -tom Ummm, ok. Well you are certainly entitled to your opinion. My point was that live TV is magnitudes better than the pre-screened Verizon clips and day old news that Vcast currently showcases. For what its worth, my Slingbox allows me to watch anything that is live OR recorded on my cable box, pay per view, on demand, etc. Sure the hell beats spending $20 per month to watch old Shakira music videos on my phone in my opinion! | |
| | | | nixenRockin' the Boxen Premium Member join:2002-10-04 Alexandria, VA |
nixen
Premium Member
2007-Feb-27 5:19 pm
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by wifi4milez:Sure the hell beats spending $20 per month to watch old Shakira music videos on my phone in my opinion! Not sure why you'd want to watch TV on your phone, any way. -tom | |
| | | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST SucksI can watch it on my phone, my laptop, where ever I happen to be as long as there is an internet connection. I have a "large screen" pocket PC phone so if I happen to be on a bus or tied up for some other reason its great to catch up on the news or watch the weather channel (widescreen is nice!). I dont think anyone is saying they would make their phone their primary TV (certainly not myself!), so I dont really understand why people have such a hard time getting their hands around the idea. | |
| | | | | | nixenRockin' the Boxen Premium Member join:2002-10-04 Alexandria, VA |
nixen
Premium Member
2007-Feb-27 6:08 pm
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by wifi4milez:I dont think anyone is saying they would make their phone their primary TV (certainly not myself!), so I dont really understand why people have such a hard time getting their hands around the idea. It's that whole, "I'm so freaking addicted to the boob-tube that I need to be able to get my fix everywhere" thing that "people have such a hard time getting their hands around." Then again, there are still people that read books for pleasure. -tom | |
| | | | | | | wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace join:2004-08-07 New York, NY |
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by nixen:said by wifi4milez:I dont think anyone is saying they would make their phone their primary TV (certainly not myself!), so I dont really understand why people have such a hard time getting their hands around the idea. It's that whole, "I'm so freaking addicted to the boob-tube that I need to be able to get my fix everywhere" thing that "people have such a hard time getting their hands around." Then again, there are still people that read books for pleasure. -tom You kind of just proved my point. I see no real difference in watching TV on your phone if you are sitting on a bus to pass the time, or reading a book on a bus to pass the time. Why people insist on vilifying TV is beyond me, especially given that I myself dont watch all that much TV. I still find it shocking that people posting on a technology oriented website are so scared of things like mobile TV! While many older people are content to read the paper, research has shown that paper readership is declining at an exponential rate. The same is true of books and other "traditional" publications. Without getting into a whole philosophical argument here, thats just the way it is and it will never go back to the way it was. Things change, the world changes, and what people do with their time changes. If someone would rather watch TV than read a book for instance, thats their perogative. | |
| | | | | | | | nixenRockin' the Boxen Premium Member join:2002-10-04 Alexandria, VA |
nixen
Premium Member
2007-Feb-27 6:47 pm
Re: VCAST Suckssaid by wifi4milez:If someone would rather watch TV than read a book for instance, thats their perogative. And if people would rather sit slack-jawed in front of the flicker-box (whether it's the nifty plasma hanging on the wall or a tiny little phone screen), rotting their brains till they become Coolah-fodder, that's their perogative, too. -tom | |
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Ahrenl join:2004-10-26 North Andover, MA |
Ahrenl
Member
2007-Feb-27 3:51 pm
Good definitionThis is a good definition of the net neutrality debate. VZW not allowing a service, while offering an identical service over the same medium.
THAT's what the debate is about, everything else has been added by people who don't understand, or understand all too well and want to confuse the debate.
If you're going to offer TV service over your public spectrum network, then better let your CUSTOMERS use their own services as well. | |
| ropeguru Premium Member join:2001-01-25 Mechanicsville, VA
1 recommendation |
ropeguru
Premium Member
2007-Feb-27 5:31 pm
Need better coverage first...Where I spend 4 days a week working the best they can get me is an analog signal off someone elses network. How about adding some more coverage then add this crap stuff... | |
| | RickezGoinginsane join:2000-09-02 Three Rivers, MA |
Rickez
Member
2007-Feb-27 7:47 pm
Re: Need better coverage first...Agreed, lets start with phone service that works. | |
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Lone WolfRetired Premium Member join:2001-12-30 USA |
I don't understand...I guess I'm just old fashioned but I don't understand the concept of watching a 2.5" tv when there are much larger alternatives.
Do the same people who watch tiny tv on their phones also have 52' HDTV in their homes? When do they have time to watch tiny tv? When they're driving or at work? | |
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Re: I don't understand...Verizon's tv service is supposed to be the same as what is aired on the regular channels and will include a programming guide. | |
| | | | | Lone WolfRetired Premium Member join:2001-12-30 USA |
Lone Wolf
Premium Member
2007-Feb-27 11:24 pm
Re: I don't understand...said by JamesPC:how about on a train. That's one. Can't think of too many other places to watch tiny tv. | |
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