bit-tech.net

Verizon phones to show YouTube

Published on 28th November 2006 by Wil Harris

Get YouTube on your Verizon cellphone.

In a bid to get more people using its multimedia services, US mobile phone supplier Verizon has signed an agreement with YouTube to allow the downloading of popular clips direct to mobile.

The carrier faces an uphill battle since US consumers have proved reluctant to use their phones for much other than phone calls, with even SMS slow to take off across the pond. This is in stark contrast to much of Europe, where video messaging, downloadable music and video and instant messaging have all taken off.

Certain phones will also be able to easily upload clips straight to YouTube, making for near-instantaneous instantaneous broadcasting of an event.

Verizon is hoping its customers will pay $15 a month for the privilege.

Seriously, $15. Just to watch YouTube clips. You couldn't just wait until you got home and save the 15 bucks? The service is a great idea, and the upload feature even more so, but the cost is far, far too much for what it is, in our IPTV-addicted brain.

YouTube has been credited with bringing about a new age of public accountability, as people videotape public figures and publish them for all to see.

Would you pay the cost to have YouTube on your mobile? Or is this whole thing just a fad? Give us your thoughts over in the forums.

9 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

mad4it 28th November 2006, 12:34

This is generally the problem with all mobile plans over here the plans just SUCK. No other way to put it. You can get unlimited plan all right but then the small print says you have to pay thru the ass for incoming. hell 5c to receive a txt msg wth is up with that

stephen2002 28th November 2006, 12:35

That's the reason that none of this stuff is catching on. Not only will you have to pay the $15 for YouTube videos, but you'll have to pay the $50 for their data plan. Very few people are so desperatly in need of entertainment on the go that they are willing to pay $65 a month on top of their normal phone bill to watch videos on a little tiny screen. At that rate in a couple of months they could have a portable DVD player and a couple of DVDs each month.

Oh yea, and text messaging, total rippoff. $0.15 per message (I have Sprint in the US), and they hit you incomming and outgoing. $0.15 for about 130 characters. I would use text messaging, but when it costs that much the only response people get to a text message is "don't text message me". An actual phone call uses so much more bandwidth yet is cheaper, not sure how the carriers are justifying charging so much.

DarkReaper 28th November 2006, 14:17

That's pretty appalling really. The one feature I did like on US networks was the walkie-talkie voice messaging thing but charging for incoming messages? Ouch...

DXR_13KE 28th November 2006, 16:32

charging for incoming???? that is madness!!!!! they are getting twice the profit.... $0.15 from the sender + $0.15 from the receiver.... CRAB!!!!!

Jodiuh 28th November 2006, 19:19

Ridiculous...when I can watch for free on the net?

LoneArchon 28th November 2006, 19:27

Verizonwireless is .10/.10 (Send/receive) for text .25/.25 (Send/receive) for picture video unless you pay for the monthly charge to have x number of message per month. I already pay for the unlimited data since i have a pda phone that i browse the web alot on and i can get videos on the phone with out paying the extra 15 a month for it not from youtube because the pocket internet explorer does not support the streaming plug in(Well i haven't mess with it to much)

DougEdey 28th November 2006, 19:43

We get paid for incoming on certain networks over here!

DXR_13KE 28th November 2006, 20:09

here to.

Tyinsar 28th November 2006, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article
Certain phones will also be able to easily upload clips straight to YouTube, making for near-instantaneous instantaneous broadcasting of an event.

And flooding YouTube with worthless, self indulgent, stupid, "just because I can" content - oh - wait - nevermind

:D