TiVo Mobile: schedule recordings from your cellphone

You may have seen reports that TiVo subscribers will be able to schedule up recordings directly from their Verizon (and then others 60 days after launch) cellphone beginning this summer. Dubbed TiVo Mobile, this is the latest feature introduced to help TiVo differentiate itself from onslaught of generic PVRs. Sounds good until we get to the price. MocoNews is reporting that TiVo will charge a $5 per month premium for this service on top of their $12.95 per month subscription. Huh? No thanks, though we might give Orb's free TiVo Everywhere service a try.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

[Steve @ Mar 7th 2006 9:07AM]

If your phone supports web browsing you can do this already. Just surf on over to Tivo Central Online. I use this all the time. Not sure why they think thay can now start charging for something that you can get for free already.

[pete @ Mar 7th 2006 9:25AM]

This is suprising?
This is Verizon, the company that charges you a monthly fee to back up your phone contacts.

[Emre Aydinceren @ Mar 7th 2006 9:39AM]

1. Incredible, cost of developing and operating a cell phone web siteis cheaper than a regular web site, and they want to charge premium.

2.Verizon also criples bluetooth in their phones so you can not back-up your phone by yourself and picture,rigntone or music transfer from other phones or your computer. Suprised?

[Alcaron @ Mar 7th 2006 10:03AM]

They need to stop watching Steve Jobs' keynotes...

(oh yes...I went there...)

[Ben @ Mar 7th 2006 10:37AM]

Of course, thanks to the wonders of hacking network cards into series 1 tivos and open-source TivoWebPlus I've been able to do this for about 3 years now - more if you count

Roll on broadcast flag! Let's stop those evil pirates coming up with stuff 3 years ahead of the curve!

[Robert Aitchison @ Mar 7th 2006 11:06AM]

If Verizon is involved no doubt it's going to cost you, they already disable features of their phones (like data transfers) so the only way you are getting that blurry 320x200 camera phone picture off of your phone, or getting a new ringtone onto your phone is to pay Verizon for the privelidge.

First they partner with the PTC then they partner with Verizon, I'm almost afraid to find out who the next parnership is with.

Oh and as it was pointed out already it seems that if your mobile device has a suitably capable browser you should be able to accomplish the same thing using TiVo Central Online or maybe the Yahoo! dealie.

[mightymatt @ Mar 7th 2006 11:18AM]

We should start a collection on engadget to try and buy tivo before they put themselves out of business...

[100 Ipod movies @ Mar 7th 2006 1:34PM]

This is really neat but I think that having to pay $5 on top of $12 is pretty steep.

[Gil Zimmermann @ Mar 7th 2006 11:03PM]

I just read that TiVo plans to release the Series 3 "next year". What a bummer. I can't live with the Comcast DVR much longer,.. check it out at: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=15984&hed=Programming+TiVo%3F+Phone+It+In.§or=Industries&subsector=EntertainmentAndMedia

[Mike @ Mar 7th 2006 11:35PM]

how about tivo to go for os x instead of all this hoo-ha crap?!?!?

[Seanner @ Mar 8th 2006 6:05PM]

Been using Orb's tivo solution for my phone for a while now (www.orb.com/dvreverywhere). Lets compare:

With Orb:
Not only can you schedule, you can also watch the shows. Works on ANY service provider. Cost: $0.00/month. Don't have to wait for a summer.

And they want to charge for this?!?! Looks like verizon needs to do some research in this market, as usual...

[Bob @ Apr 3rd 2006 11:29AM]

Is there a way to download program data (daily program updates) for my Tivo DVR using a cell phone instead of a land line?