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Archive for the 'FiOS' Tag

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Special Huntington Beach home gets Verizon FiOS

November 4th, 2009, 11:07 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

greenhbhomeMany people here in Orange County want Verizon FiOS TV and Internet service badly but can’t order the service in their neighborhood. However, if you happen to be building the first “green” house in Huntington Beach, consider Verizon at your service.

The new Living Green home, which is being unveiled today in Huntington Beach, managed to get the highly sought-after TV and fast Internet service.

Our Huntington Beach housing reporter (yes, we have a reporter who covers real estate just in HB!) wrote all about the home Tuesday at “Grand opening for 1st Surf City green home.”

Built by Living Green Homes Construction & Development, the 3-story home at 319 21st St. has a few other notable perks. It was built on guidelines from Build it Green, uses 40 percent less water and 65 percent less energy and saves the owner $700 a month (What? That’s one huge monthly bill!) Plus, it’s just a few blocks from the beach. The kick-off party is today at 1:30 p.m. The home will be open for public tours before it’s sold.

But any techie in their right mind will gloss over these greenish facts and hone in on the 100 percent fiber-optic FiOS service. FiOS is an alternative to cable TVand offers Internet speeds of up to 50 mbps downstream, 20 Mbps upstream, plus it has the most high-definition channels available in O.C. In addition, FiOS service includes on-screen widgets to check your Twitter messages and Facebook status and other geeky things like that.

The “green-ness” of FiOS? It “increases a homeowner’s ability to reduce their carbon footprint through telecommuting, video-conferencing and on-demand entertainment,” says the company.

Good enough for me!

Of course, I should note that this near downtown Huntington Beach neighborhood was one of the first to even get Verizon FiOS services. Verizon didn’t have to go much out of its way to offer it.

You’ll have to check out the Register’s Green OC blog to get full coverage of Orange County’s green building scene. Added 12:50 p.m. - Here’s the story: “State’s green building program easier than national system.”

Recent Green OC news:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | 10 Comments »

Verizon FiOS TV update: More in Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, O.C.

November 2nd, 2009, 8:26 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon FiOS signFor anyone hoping to order Verizon FiOS TV service, the company reported some disappointing news last week: Fewer customers are signing up for service.

FiOS service does tend to be more expensive than cable, but you do get more HD channels, faster Internet and nifty TV widgets.

But  the most discouraging aspect for all who hope FiOS succeeds is that Verizon spent the quarter targeting homes already in FiOS territory. In Orange County and other parts of Southern California, the company slowed down on expanding in new neighborhoods. Rather, it focused on signing up more customers in existing FiOS locations.

One theory: People who want it, sign up immediately. Everyone else? You’ve got to have more enticing offers (read: cheaper than cable with no strings attached).

Still, FiOS continues to grow, just slower than many had hoped. Same is true in Orange County, which wasn’t completely shut out of expansion.

In fact, construction has just wrapped up in Seal Beach and Los Alamitos, Verizon’s Jon Davies confirmed.

The single family houses and apartment buildings were mostly in following areas in Los Alamitos:

  • The area bordered by Los Alamitos Blvd on the west, Katella on the north, Farquhar on the south and Lexington on the east.
  • The area north and south of Ball and west of Bloomfield.
  • The area around Cerritos and Humbolt.
  • The area north of Katella between Bloomfield and Florista.

WHERE IS FIOS IN ORANGE COUNTY?

View Verizon FiOS in Orange County in a larger map. If you have a place to add, you can do so in the comment area of this Google Map. You’ll need to log into Google. Or feel free to leave a comment below with specifics so I can verify and at some point in my life, I’ll update it on the map.

In addition, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | 12 Comments »

Verizon FiOS TV losing steam? Growth rate slips

October 26th, 2009, 12:40 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Update: Added several East Coast states that got FiOS in recent months. See addendum below.
—————————-

Verizon FiOS signVerizon’s FiOS TV service continues to grow, but not quite as fast as it used to.

From July to September, 191,000 people signed up to get TV service from Verizon FiOS, bringing the number of subscribers to the cable TV alternative to 2.7 million nationwide, according to the company’s third-quarter financial report this morning.

But 191,000 is about a 33 percent decline from the most recent quarter. Even compared to Verizon’s year-ago quarter, the number is lower. The last time Verizon’s net new customers didn’t break the 200,000 mark was in the second quarter of 2008.  Is Verizon’s FiOS TV service losing steam?

The growth rate decline was a big letdown. Sanford Bernstein, and analyst with Craig Moffett, called the drop in FiOS growth rates a “clear disappointment,” according to the Associated Press report. Wall Street had expected growth of 253,000 net new customers.

By comparison, AT&T said last week that its U-verse TV service added 240,000 customers during the quarter. Both U-verse and FiOS are offering TV services to compete with local cable companies.

Here’s a comparison chart of the growth of FiOS TV:

Verizon FiOS TV 3Q07 4Q07 1Q08 2Q08 3Q08 Q408
New 202,000 226,000 263,000 176,000 233,000 303,000
Total (in millions) 0.7 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.9

2009:

1Q09 2Q09 3Q09
299,000 300,000 191,000
2.2 2.5 2.7

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Internet • Video & TV • • • • • • | 6 Comments »

Verizon plans to make FiOS hub of home security, heating, electronics

October 21st, 2009, 1:00 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon FiOS signSpotted on Verizon’s site: In celebrating its 5-year birthday announcement of its young FiOS fiber-optic-based services, Verizon says it plans to offer FiOS customers the ability to add security, heating and air conditioning and various consumer electronics to their FiOS networks.

It’s just a small mention inside the press release, where the company pats itself on the back for managing to offer 15 million homes FiOS TV and Internet services. But it does say this feature will come in “coming months.” Here’s the blurb:

Verizon will further enrich FiOS over the coming months so that it becomes a control hub for much more than home information and entertainment.  Verizon will leverage the dynamic home network built for every FiOS customer, adding such household systems as security, heating and air conditioning and various consumer electronics.

It’s not too difficult to add these services to an existing home network. Some companies, like Irvine-based Smarthome, have been doing it for years. Such services allow people to turn on the heater from their cell phone or get an e-mail alert when their security camera spots something fishy outside the front door.  Other networking companies like Fountain Valley’s D-Link Systems offer inexpensive network security cameras for the do-it-yourselfer.

But building the super home network is not as simple as turning on a switch. Perhaps Verizon has figured out a way for anyone to integrate home security and utilities to the home network? As noted from the press release, details are coming.

In the same press release, Verizon also updates us on how far its fiber-optic TV and Internet services have come. The service, which launched in 2007 in Orange County, will be available to 15 million homes and businesses by the end of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Verizon FiOS raises TV prices $10 for some

October 8th, 2009, 4:20 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon FiOS signSpotted on MultiChannel News: Verizon FiOS is raising the price for TV customers. Not all though. Just those who subscribed to the FiOS TV Premier package.

I double checked with Verizon and a spokesman confirmed that indeed, prices are going up $10 per month for Premier customers not in a contract. Those in a contract won’t see an increase. The new price is $57.99.

This is because the Premier plan no longer exists. It was phased out last year, replaced by FiOS Essentials and FiOS Extreme HD. The new plans are  $47.99 and $57.99 respectively.

Customers can either pay the extra $10 a month or upgrade to the newer plans, which include a few more features like access to all new channels and the 5,000 new video-on-demand shows added this year. Most of the shows are free, said spokesman Jon Davies.

Premier customers don’t get access to all the HD channels.

Pretty much all the TV providers in Orange County have raise prices this year. Here are links to those stories from early 2009:

Recent stories about TV, mobile prices:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • | 11 Comments »

Free games for Verizon Internet customers starts Friday

October 7th, 2009, 12:28 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon free game weekend

If you’re a Verizon Internet customer and have kids, or like to play games yourself, set an alert for Friday, Oct. 9, when Verizon offers free access to 1,500 games on demand. After the free weekend, ending Monday, Oct. 12, the price goes back to $4.99 to $14.99 per month.

That’s four full days of free games.

The offer is for Verizon’s FiOS Internet and DSL customers. Go to verizon.net/freegames to access the games.

This is a mostly casual collection of games, which include Boggle, The Secret of Margrave Manor 2, SpongeBob Teaches Typing, Zoo Tycoon, Bejeweled Twist. You can scan the list of  games available on Verizon’s main game page at gamesondemand.verizon.net.

The catch? You can play the games on a computer as much as you want all weekend but after that, you’ll be locked out. If you do decide to pay for the service, you’ll get two weeks free. Or just head to other Web sites that offer free casual games all the time, like AddictingGames.com or EA’s pogo.com.

Like deals? Check out the OC Register’s Deals blog.

Posted in: Internet • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Cable scores lowest in paid TV customer satisfaction survey

October 7th, 2009, 6:00 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

J.D. Power and AssociatesIn a report out this morning, traditional TV service providers continued to get pounded by consumers. Ratings company J.D. Power and Associates ranked cable companies the lowest out of all available TV services in the company’s 2009 TV Service Satisfaction report.

Here in the West, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications scored the lowest out of the six TV services available in Orange County. Newer TV alternatives AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS took the lead, with satellite TV services  DirecTV and Dish Networks tied for third place.

The annual report said overall scores improved from 2008, indicating that TV providers really are paying attention to their customers, said Frank Perazzini, director of telecommunications at J.D. Power.

Consumers said they didn’t have to wait on hold for as long as last year — falling 13 percent to 9 minutes, 5 seconds. Customers also experienced fewer outages — 11 percent this year, compared to 15 percent last year.

Overall scores were at 632 on a 1,000-point scale, up 23 points from last year. This year’s study was based on 28,118 U.S. households who were surveyed in January, March and July 2009.

Still, 632 out of 1,000 doesn’t sound too hot. Here’s where the local companies landed:

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 44 Comments »

Add Dish, FiOS to TV services offering free preview of CBS College Sports

October 6th, 2009, 11:03 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

CBS College SportsDish Network and Verizon FiOS are the latest to announce they will offer a free preview of CBS College Sports Network to all customers. Time Warner announced the freebie last week.

Verizon FiOS: Free preview runs through Oct. 10. CBS College Sports is on channel 94 in standard definition. More details HERE.

Dish Network: Free preview runs one week starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 14. The sports channel is on Ch. 152 in standard and high definition. Typically, the CBS College Sports Network is part of Dish’s Classic Silver 200 package for $37.99/month. More details HERE.

Time Warner: This free preview began Monday, Oct. 5, on Channel 261 and ends Sunday, Oct. 11. More details HERE.

The full TV schedule is available on the CBS site,  cbscollegesports.com/schedule

Earlier stories about TV & sports:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

WeatherBug hits the small screen for FiOS TV users

October 5th, 2009, 8:25 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

WeatherBug Widget for Verizon FiOS TV.Everyone’s crazy for apps, but Verizon’s FiOS TV is adding these software features faster than most other TV services.

WeatherBug, which offers a tool for computer users to get personalized weather reports, launches a TV version this week for FiOS TV customers.

Without leaving your favorite morning TV report, you can check the weather forecast for home and work and pull up a list of 10 frequently checked zip codes.

The service is free to Verizon FiOS TV customers.

Similar WeatherBug widgets will likely roll out as more TV come equipped with Internet. A bunch of them, including one from Irvine’s Vizio, is integrating Yahoo! Widgets, which also offers a WeatherBug widget.

Earlier on TV widgets:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • | 1 Comment »

FiOS gives 4 more reasons for cable subscribers to be jealous

September 30th, 2009, 1:23 am by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon FiOS signIf you’ve wondered what high-definition TV channels actually exist, look to Verizon FiOS, which became Orange County’s leader in HD channels this year.

The company announced it will add more HD channels on Thursday, Oct. 1. The new HD channels are AMC HD, on channel 731; WE TV (Women’s Entertainment), channel 649; IFC HD, channel 894; and Fuse HD on channel 716. That brings the Verizon’s total to 133 HD channels in Orange County (see my new chart “Verizon FiOS HD Channels).

Local cable customers, meanwhile, are lucky if they’re getting 60, which to the cable providers’ credit is at least 20 percent more than was offered last year. Cable companies are also trying out different technologies to make more channels available.

FiOS HD
1 A&E HD
2 ABC-KABC HD
3 ABC Family HD
4 ABC Live Well
5 Action Max HD
6 Action Max HD
7 Animal Planet HD
8 At Max HD
9 Big Ten Network HD
Click HERE for the full list.

The big problem with FiOS TV service is that very few people can order the service. In Orange County, the number of FiOS-eligible cities hasn’t changed in months. Those cities with partial service are Brea, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach,  Stanton, Westminster and certain unincorporated areas.

But if you can order service, the channels seem to keep coming.  (Any FiOS customers notice a price increase?) FiOS has added at least 20 HD channels since February. Also, cable TV companies are at or near their maximum capacity. Verizon is nowhere near hitting its limit.

Jon Davies, a FiOS spokesman explained to me (again) why this fiber-optic cable TV service has so much room. Essentially, Verizon has three streams to each house it serves: One delivers HD and standard-definition video, a second one delivers Internet and voice service, and the third is upstream link for users to, for example, upload videos online faster (at 20 Mbps). Davies says: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • • • • | 9 Comments »

FiOS to offer 3-hour free preview of new NFL channel

September 28th, 2009, 12:36 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Verizon FiOS offers NFL RedZone channel and widget.Verizon FiOS may not have the exclusive contract to air every single NFL game, but it joined other TV service providers this month in offering the new NFL RedZone channel to subscribers. The new channel will cost FiOS TV customers $49 for the season.

However, on Sunday Oct. 3, Verizon will lift the entry fee for three hours so any FiOS TV subscriber can tune in. Free access will be offered between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific time. NFL RedZone is available in HD on channel 835 and in standard definition on channel 335.

Additional benefit for FiOS TV customers: The Verizon football widget, which alerts viewers anytime a team is moving inside its opponent’s 20-yard line.

Elsewhere in Orange County, the two cable TV companies are not offering the new NFL channel, but AT&T U-verse and Dish Networks are.

Recent news in sports and TV service:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

DirecTV loses another customer to FiOS

September 21st, 2009, 1:34 pm by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

DirecTV loses another customerOur resident Deals Diva has finally cut off DirecTV in favor of a rare TV service available in parts of Orange County: Verizon FiOS. She’s been in one of the lucky neighborhoods to get service and has mentioned to me quite a few times about how tired she is of FiOS advertising.

But apparently, the message got through — not to mention the price. Marla Fisher blogs about her switch today in “I’m breaking up with DirecTV.” She’s a funny writer and has some great columns about being a frumpy, middle-aged mom.

Marla’s letter reminds me of what consumers really want: A good deal on their monthly bill. Why pay $90 when you can get it for $79 ?

After talking to Marla, it appears that DirecTV didn’t raise everyone’s monthly rate last month, although the company did raise rates this year, see “Can you spare $3? DirecTV raising prices.”) She previously called to complain, they dropped the price, and now that “offer” expired so it went back up.

Calling to get monthly rates lowered is still a good tactic. Read earlier coverage of how Time Warner Cable treats customers who complain about the price:

TV providers have been offering some pretty good deals lately, thanks to increased competition from Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse. In fact today, Verizon FiOS launched a new series of deals, including $150 pre-paid card if you order a FiOS double or triple play bundle. New customers who commit to two years get a 24-month price guarantee. There are other offers for existing customers online at www.verizon.com/deal.

DirecTV’s current deal is TV service with the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package for $59.99/month for 5 months. Not bad, but after five months, the price goes up by $109.

Hey readers: Let’s compare notes. What is the best TV deal you’ve seen or subscribe to?

Past stories on TV service prices:

Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • | 3 Comments »

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