Verizon Extends Free FiOS Mobile App to Apple iPad

NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon continues to create the future of TV by bringing to consumers more advanced mobile-entertainment capabilities on more devices.  FiOS TV customers who also have Apple's iPad can now download and use Verizon's free FiOS Mobile application, which lets customers manage their DVRs and browse FiOS video-on-demand (VOD) offers remotely, plus turn their iPad into a remote control for their HD set-top boxes.  

"Verizon is pushing the boundaries of TV with innovative technology that continues to spur the industry's evolution," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon.  "We're giving customers more control over their TV entertainment whenever and wherever they want it.  Extending our FiOS Mobile app to customers using iPads gives more subscribers more ways to conveniently manage their FiOS TV services."

Verizon started offering customers the ability to use their mobile device as a remote control earlier this year.  The feature is available on more than 40 mobile devices running Android software v.2.1 or above or that support Wi-Fi.  It is also available on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.  

Now, FiOS TV subscribers can use their iPad as a virtual television remote control for their HD set top boxes.  The application automatically personalizes options based on the tablet connected to the set-top box, enabling customized favorites and other preferences, and has virtually the same functionality as the standard FiOS TV remote.  

Customers can change channels; manage parental controls; and pause, rewind and fast forward or record a TV show.  Subscribers can also click on the video-on-demand (VOD) button and browse and search on-demand titles; or click on the FiOS TV button and jump to live TV when watching recorded programs.  

With FiOS Mobile, FiOS TV customers can use their iPad to remotely manage their DVR settings whether they are in their home and away from the TV set, or on the go.  Subscribers can review, change or add recording requests; record an entire series; delete recorded programs; browse and search TV and VOD listings; set parental controls; check their DVR recorder status; and more.

Verizon plans to add new features to the FiOS Mobile application over the next few months, including photo flicking for the iPad, which allows customers to use their tablet to flick stored photos from the iPad to the TV, one photo at a time.  

Verizon offers interactive applications across multiple carriers and mobile platforms.  To use the iPad mobile remote feature, customers simply go to the FiOS TV Widget's main menu, click on "Mobile Remote," find the mobile device on the list of supported phones, and follow the instructions for pairing it to the HD set-top box.  The customer will be prompted to install the Mobile Remote application through the Apple App Store.

Verizon Wireless offers three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. The MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

The bundles begin at a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB plus MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB plus MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB plus MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.

FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social-networking, news and entertainment widgets; Internet videos on TV; streaming of personal videos, photos and music from home computers to the TV; and many  others.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon