v-cast

Moto unveils V Cast TV phone

Though there was much ado about Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV service when the carrier launched the service earlier this year, it's been eerily quiet since then. In particular, we've been waiting for new handsets beyond the original LG VX9400 and the Samsung SCH-U620.

Fortunately, our wait came to an end this morning when Verizon and Motorola announced the new Moto Rizr Z6tv. Sporting the familiar, and may we add quite attractive, Rizr slider design, the Z6tv offers a solid feature set beyond the Mobile TV support (which is quite enough by itself). You'll find Bluetooth, … Read more

Former Microsoft partners unite

(UPDATE: RealNetworks has filed an 8-K form with the SEC that contains some more details about Rhapsody America. Most notable: MTV is contributing a $230 million note to the deal, and RealNetworks will in exchange be required to spend that amount with MTV on advertising. The joint venture is between RealNetworks and MTV, with Verizon as a distribution partner.)

The 2007 Consumer Electronics Show must've held some awkward moments for Microsoft.

The previous year, the company had trumpeted MTV's Urge music store as the showcase for the Windows Media Player 11 that was due to ship with Vista. … Read more

MTV, Real, and Verizon to take on iTunes with new music initiative

With their new joint digital music initiative, MTV Networks, RealNetworks and Verizon Wireless are taking a direct aim at Apple's iTunes powerhouse.

Called Rhapsody America, the yet-to-launch collaboration among the three companies will combine MTV's relatively unsuccessful Urge music store, the Real-owned Rhapsody subscription download service, and Verizon's V Cast mobile media service to create a music store that reaches across the PC, digital music player, and mobile phone platforms.

The new Rhapsody America company is officially a joint venture between MTV Networks and Real Networks, with Verizon Wireless as its exclusive mobile partner. Urge as a … Read more

Verizon Wireless thumbs its nose at the iPhone

With the iPhone completely dominating cell phone news this week, it's easy to forget that other cell phones exist. Crave wonders why any manufacturer or service provider would see the PR benefit in making an announcement this week, but that hasn't stopped T-Mobile from unveiling its Hotspot @Home and Sprint from taking the wraps off its new LG Muziq phone.

But today Verizon Wireless revealed that it was hosting its own party to match the Apple and AT&T events on the iPhone launch day. In a press release, the carrier invites shoppers to test-drive "the … Read more

YouTube mobile now available for everyone

YouTube's mobile site has been live and available as of a few days ago. The service offers a hand-picked selection of videos users can watch on their mobile devices. Users have access to just the bare essentials, such as running time, rating, and a link to a video's page with more details. There is, however, no community aspect--no user comments, ratings, or video responses--the kind of things that make YouTube so interesting. Also missing is a dedicated video uploader, as mobile users are still required to submit their mobile videos via MMS messaging.

Instead of running in Flash, … Read more

ESPN Mobile resurrected for V Cast subscribers

Those with long memories in the mobile space might remember a little MVNO called Mobile ESPN that debuted some time in early 2006. The sports-based carrier catered especially to sports fanatics who wanted a cell phone that delivered real-time sports scores, sports videos, news stories, stats of favorite teams, and more, via an innovative ESPN-themed user interface. However, Mobile ESPN had to pull the plug only after a few short months, presumably due to lack of consumer interest.

Well, sports fans can now rejoice, because ESPN has partnered with Verizon to resurrect the Mobile ESPN experience via an ESPN MVP … Read more

Photos: LG rules the roost for V Cast Mobile TV

Crave got up close and personal with Verizon's latest cell phone for its new V Cast Mobile TV service. The LG VX9400 sports a unique form factor with a brilliant display that swivels up for comfortable viewing. Inside you'll find a host of features that are backed up by decent performance. Video sound quality could be a bit iffy at times, and the rotating display isn't conducive for making calls, but we like it better than the previous Samsung SCH-U620. For more, check out our VX9400 review and our slide show.

News Roundup: UPS Delivery Intercept, YouTube Mobile, McCain's MySpace punk'd

UPS re-direct service goes live. Ever missed a package because it got delivered to your house or apartment while you were at work? UPS has introduced a new service called Delivery Intercept that lets you redirect, hold, and return a package en route, avoiding such mishaps. ( CNET News.com)

YouTube to launch mobile site. The popular video-sharing site is readying a version of its site optimized for mobile viewers. The only reason there hasn't been one sooner is an exclusivity clause with Verizon, from a deal inked last November for Verizon's V Cast service. (via GigaOm)

Google Pack expanded. … Read more

Verizon's LG VX9400 could launch this month

Just last week, Crave was in a bit of fix over the launch of V Cast TV from Verizon Wireless. Though we were excited to see the service take off, we couldn't help but bemoan the fact that only the Samsung SCH-U620 was supported at launch. It's not that the SCH-U20 was particularly bad, but rather that the other V Cast TV phone, the LG VX9400, was especially good. Not only did the quality look better on the VX9400, but we also loved the nifty swivel design of the ample display. Now, thanks to an anonymous tipster, Engadget Mobile … Read more