Gadgets galore, more HD coming to FiOS

Verizon’s been telling us for some time their FiOS television and Internet service will revolutionize the industry. Perhaps this is the beginning.
Verizon this weekend unveiled a batch of features that will make watching television a lot more like using your laptop. The FiOS service will release several new widgets - little applications that pop up [...]

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More “Verizon stinks” news from Newsday

The headline reads: Verizon FiOS installations on LI in ‘poor condition’.
So what does that mean? Of the 200,000-plus installations of its fiber optic service Verizon has completed, how many would you think are in “poor condition?”
The answer: 10.
Of 14 Nassau sites inspected July 9 and 10 by staff of the State Public Service Commission, 10 [...]

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Cablevision under fire in CT

A group of senior citizens in Connecticut are infuriated with Cablevision for forcing them to obtain set-top boxes in order to watch three public access channels there.
Cablevision may be breaking Connecticut law, which requires cable companies to provide public access service, according to this report in the Register Citizen in Torrington.
Among those prepared to crack [...]

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Verizon under PSC pressure

The state’s Public Service Commission has cited Verizon for violations regarding improperly grounding the terminal boxes it attaches to houses in order to connect its FiOS fiber optic service, according to a Newsday story.
While fiber optic cables do not conduct electricity, because they are made of glass, the PSC has said there is a possibility [...]

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Will FiOS pay off for Verizon?

It’s a big question that investors in New York-based Verizon are asking: Will the company’s planned $23 billion investment in building its FiOS fiber optic network translate to profit any time soon, or will the debt linger?
According to a New York Times article, Verizon says it will. Areas where FiOS is available, which now includes [...]

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FiOS reclaims HD throne

It took a while, but Verizon is making inroads in its promise to offer 150 high-definition channels by the end of 2008. The tally has just hit 100.
The company’s fiber optic FiOS service now boasts …. deep breath …all of the networks in HD (CBS, ABC, etc.) as well as USA HD, TNT HD, TBS [...]

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A lie by any other name

If consumers didn’t question Cablevision’s advertising about its service versus Verizon’s FiOS, they’d believe Optimum online is faster, Cablevision uses fiber optic cables too, Verizon has changed its name to “the phone company” and people are actually persuaded by a glib, cocky knucklehead in a black sports jacket.
But they’d be wrong. Optimum is faster than [...]

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FiOS for humanity

The current gas crisis has really pulled at Verizon’s heart. Just this weekend, “the phone company” was at a Citgo station in Smithtown, paying for a 25 cent reduction in the gas price and signing up for FiOS many of the motorists lining up to pay $3.99 a gallon. (Yes, $3.99 a gallon is cheap [...]

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Who needs a landline anyway?

What seemed like a logical next step has finally come to Verizon customers. The New York telecommunications company announced it will offer a triple play price to customers who want to ditch their landline phone service and replace it with a wireless account from Verizon wireless.
Previously, if you did not choose landline to bundle with [...]

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The promised HD is on the way

Maybe switching back to Cablevision won’t happen after all.
Verizon announced today that in early July it is going to start rolling out new high-definition channels, the first sign of progress since it told FiOS subscribers to expect to have 150 HD channels by the end of 2008.
Verizon is going to add 60 new channels, 25 [...]

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The latest toy for FiOS subscribers

Long ago, Verizon promised its FiOS subscribers that 2008 would be a year to remember. So far, aside from a switch to an all-digital signal, we’ve been waiting for the extra high-definition channels and the never-before-seen bells and whistles only a fiber optic service can offer.
But maybe this is the beginning.
Verizon today launched a [...]

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FiOS approved by NYC

Verizon is one step closer to what could be its biggest ever franchise agreement …  next to Babylon, of course.
New York City’s Franchise and Concession Review Committee today unanimously approved the agreement. That means Verizon can soon roll out its FiOS fiber optic television and Internet service in the five boroughs. State approval is all [...]

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The FiOS Affair: 1 year later, no HD

Exactly one year ago, LI Biz Blog jumped into the cable wars when I decided to switch to Verizon’s FiOS fiber optic television, Internet and phone service and conduct a comprehensive review of the process, and the new product.
But a lot has gone on in the past year, so we feel it’s due time for [...]

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NYC, FiOS is on the way

Talk about the Western Front.
While Verizon is warring with Cablevision on Long Island for television/Internet/telephone dominance via its FiOS service, the New York-based telecommunications company will attack its city base next.
New York City has announced it will now accept proposals from new cable companies, and Verizon is reportedly ready to submit one.
Perhaps that’s why we’re [...]

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Hey FiOS subscribers, any complaints?

LI Biz Blog readers know this writer is a FiOS subscriber, and when it comes to my experience, it’s all written down.
But as Verizon continues to roll out the fiber-to-the-home service, troubles keep surfacing.
First, we heard Verizon had run out of the Motorola-made cable boxes, making prospective subscribers wait for them to become available.
Then, we [...]

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On FiOS, when it rains it pours

Not having the box is bad … but running out of free televisions is sure to more than peeve a few new Verizon FiOS subscribers.
A few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported Verizon had run out of its Motorola-made high-definition cable boxes, and new subscribers were told they would have to wait until March [...]

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Want FiOS, you may have to wait for a box

Locals who are considering ordering FiOS, Verizon’s fiber optic television, phone and Internet service, might want to wait a few weeks, especially if you have an high-definition television.
The company is reportedly running short on its HD boxes, which happen to be manufactured by Motorola. And it seems many will have to wait until March 10 [...]

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Cablevision adds Food HD and HGTV HD

So, despite the faster speeds, and sleeker features, this FiOS subscriber is wondering why he’s sticking with Verizon (and I know for a fact there are few people at Cablevision who are devilishly delighted to hear that).
On the good side, Verizon has come out with Internet offerings on the speed front, including the symmetrical upload [...]

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Verizon’s NFL perk

Verizon just intercepted Cablevision’s pass.
Today, Cablevision announced Caller ID in the television, and true to the never ending hair pulling between the two telecoms, Verizon announced a sweet extra for FiOS, and DSL subscribers.
Customers will be now be able to watch live online broadcasts of football games from the NFL Network, namely Thursday night and [...]

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Next stop, Malverne

The Malverne Board of Trustees has approved a video franchise for Verizon, paving the way for the New York company to roll out its television services in the village.
The New York State Public Service Commission still needs to approve the deal, though that seems like a formality.
For a list of all the places Verizon’s FiOS [...]

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FiOS adds Discovery HD

But doesn’t FiOS already have Discovery HD?
Yes, but no. The Discovery HD Theater that FiOS and Cablevision subscribers have been watching, which features nature programs, documentaries and programs independent of the regular Discovery Channel, is now called HD Theater on FiOS.
Discovery HD features all of the programming from the Discovery Channel, only in HD, much [...]

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What is happening at Cablevision?

This morning, Cablevision announced a wider third quarter loss but said its operating income actually rose because existing television customers added phone and Internet services. That means, existing customers picked up the Triple Play.
However, the number of subscribers actually fell.
From The Street:
Cablevision saw both a sequential and year-over-year increase in monthly subscriber defections. This so [...]

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Cablevision adds CNN HD

Cablevision is not sleeping when it comes to adding high-definition channels.
The Bethpage-based cable company said today it is adding CNN HD to its lineup, its 42nd HD channel.
Verizon’s FiOS television service does not carry that HD channel. In fact, when its comes to HD channels, Cablevison is thumping Verizon, boosted by its addition of the [...]

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FiOS adds Hamptons TV

Cablevision may have News 12, a channel I’d guess it would rather dissolve than share with Verizon’s FiOS television service, but it no longer has complete control over Hamptons news.
Verizon announced that WVVH-TV Hamptons TV will now be available on FiOS and can be viewed on channel 14 by all Long Island subscribers.
Time Warner also [...]

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Oh goodness, a faster FiOS

Uploaders, your day is here at last. While rivals Cablevision and Verizon have been going head-to-head trying to best each other on the download-speed front when it comes to Internet service, it’s been relatively quiet on the upload front.
However, Verizon just said during a Web cast that it is launching a “symmetrical” service. That means [...]

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Fox on FiOS

The Fox Business Network launched today and it didn’t take long for Verizon to let us all know that if you have its FiOS service, you’re in luck. Verizon also added A&E HD to its lineup.
Here are a few graphs from Verizon:
A&E HD offers the real-life series “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” [...]

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The quadruple play is here at last

Verizon announced today it is bundling its landline telephone service with its wireless phone service … leading to deeply discounted bundled prices if you have other Verizon products. (That means FiOS.)
First, here’s the deal if you only have Verizon’s phone service — and television and Internet from another provider. Verizon will charge $59.99 a month [...]

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The FiOS list update

Add three more Long Island communities to the list. Verizon announced today its fiber optic television, Internet and phone service, which this blogger has already decided is a wonderful service, is now available parts of Garden City, Nissequogue and Poquott.
So here’s the updated Long Island FiOS list:

Garden City (parts)
Nissequogue
Poquott
Freeport
Farmingdale
Valley Stream
[...]

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Cablevision cries foul

Fascinating Viewpoint page in Crain’s New York Business. It’s a must read for anyone as infatuated with the Verizon-Cablevision battle as we are.
The New York business publication writes an editorial demanding that New York City grant Verizon a video franchise so the FiOS provider can start to roll out its TV services in the Big [...]

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The growing Long Island FiOS list

Verizon keeps adding areas where its FiOS fiber optic television, Internet and phone service is available, but do you really know all of them?
Worry not, here’s the whole Long Island list. If you live in, or work in any of the following townships or villages you can order FiOS from Verizon (and from a truly [...]

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