Verizon turning cell phones into TV remotes

Verizon Communications is getting ready to launch a new feature that allows its Fios TV customers to interact with their sets using their Verizon Wireless cell phones, according to a story published by Dow Jones News service.

The company has been talking about the capability for months, and it recently demonstrated an application that will turn Verizon phones into a remote controls for the Fios TV service. The application is expected to be commercially available in the next three months.

The handset remote control application will only work with Wi-Fi enabled handsets and will use a Wi-Fi network instead of the Verizon cellular network to access the Fios service. Wi-Fi is only available on a select handsets from Verizon Wireless.

[fcz1]

Isn't there an app for that already? Oh wait, that's AT&T...

[thebergie]

Too bad all of Verizon's Blackberry's are wifi disabled.

[ikramerica--2008]

It is not a TV remote. It is a FiOS DVR controller. Big difference. You can't turn your TV on or off or change the volume, input, etc.. Just like the Sling/Dish and DirecTV apps.<br /><br />Why can't the author get something so fundamental right?

[jeff327]

Why can't you check your facts before commenting. Verizon put out the DVR control for its phones months ago. This is completely different. This is a remote just as the author said. So, lets summarize. Cnet right....you wrong.

[iff2mastamatt]

Nokias have had irRemote for some time.

[play7]

Nothing no for Japanese cellphone owners. We had this feature for years..........

[brianpaige]

guess I'm missing the value-add here. Why the devil would I bother to use my cell phone for this? Ignoring for the moment that wi-fi drains the battery faster, and thus would mean I essentially have to leave the phone plugged in to the wall for this to be useful, this would only control the TV/FIOS setup, not the attached sound system or other bits. Market segment seems rather small.

[prince_f_swords]

IrDa remote on S60(Nokia) works as a Universal remote. First one i had was in 2003.

[cpriz]

verizon sucks. too expensive

[jskrenes]

I don't get it. Seems like a lot of work, unless you're using a PDA with infrared (there have been apps for that since WAY before the iPhone) or Bluetooth to control your PS3, but wifi seems kind of useless, especially since it's disabled on just about everything but Windows Mobile devices and as the above poster mentioned, that's a battery hog anyway. Unless this is some sort off-site control or programming feature, there really isn't a value.

[jungleboogiemonster]

I wonder how much Verizon will charge for this. They are the network that charges for EVERYTHING.