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It's official: YouTube and Verizon ink deal
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 - ReutersRead - San Jose Mercury News
Verizon in talks to bring YouTube to V CAST, television
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
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
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]
Verizon and LG release Chocolate phone, stop the madness
With release dates galore, unboxing pics and of course a whole former life as Korea-only hawterness, you can understand if we're happy to be "done" with this one. Verizon has finally released LG's Chocolate phone, the VX8500. There's a mostly a dearth of surprises: sexy slider action in a 0.69-inch thick form factor, V Cast Music store support, 1.3 megapixel camera and some speedy EV-DO. The biggest news is that along with the release, Verizon is dropping the $15 monthly fee from their V Cast Music store, making downloads "only" cost the two buck fee for dual PC and phone downloads. So, if you haven't already bought one and sent us unboxing pics, you can pick up the $150 phone (after a $50 rebate) and be the coolest kid on your block for at least five seconds.Read - Verizon launches ChocolateRead - Verizon drops V Cast Music monthly fee
Pics of Motorola's KRZR for Verizon
Somebody out there really loves us. An anonymous tipster just sent in a handful of pics of Motorola's impending followup to the RAZR -- formerly dubbed the Canary, and now known by the nearly-unpronounceable series of letters KRZR -- running on Verizon's CDMA network. Nothing here that we haven't seen before, but if you wanted a sneak preview of what this phone will look like in your hand as you watch all that wonderful V Cast swag, now you have a pretty good idea. Click on for a few more shots of the handset that Moto is hoping another 50 million people will decide they just gotta have...
Verizon releases new LG V with V CAST Music
Verizon Wireless has released an updated version of the LG V handset, which is actually the same as the old LG V handset, only now it supports Verizon's V CAST music service and VZ Navigator turn-by-turn direction service. Even without those fancy new perks, the EV-DO-equipped LG V was a decently feature-packed phone, a 1.3 megapixel camera, full QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, and a MicroSD slot. Verizon also still lists the new V as having an "embedded MP3 player" in addition to V CAST Music, which would be a change in strategy on Verizon's part if true, as they've previously removed MP3 support on phones with V CAST (unless you buy Verizon's logic that the phones do play MP3s so long as they're convert to WMAs first). You can snag one for $149 with a two-year contract, or $199 for a one-year deal.[Via MobileTracker]
Motorola V3m RAZR musicphone to be available for Verizon
Last time we checked in on Motorola's V3m -- a slight music-centric update to the EV-DO V3c -- we weren't quite sure if this was going to Verizon or Sprint, but it looks like Verizon won out in the end, and are apparently going to be offering the handset for $150 with a 2-year contract. The phone features a MicroSD slot for music and video storage, and a 1.3 megapixel camera, but there doesn't seem to be a lot else new going on here. Music wise, the phone is designed to work with Verizon's V CAST music and video services, but we're not sure of codec support beyond those downloads (though MP3 seems a given and PlaysForSure is likely).[Thanks, Ryan]
Nokia 6315i musicphone approved by FCC
It looks like Pantech and Nokia have been hanging out again, but this time Nokia will be the one dropping the rebranded handset, an EV-DO-sporting model for Verizon known as the 6315i (and formerly known as the PN-E330). Phone Scoop discovered this recent approval while enjoying the FCC website, and reports back that it features a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD slot, and Bluetooth, along with dedicated external music controls. We'll let you know when we find out a release date and some pricing info for this fairly feature-filled flip phone.[Via Phone Scoop]
