Verizon at Home

[#1]

It’s that time of year again, when aficionados of the arts and technology descend on Austin, Texas for the annual SXSW festival.  The festival offers a unique perspective on music, film and new technologies.  It’s known as one of the breeding grounds for launching creative content and ways to connect with it.  In 2009, the Foursquare app launched and it’s where the film The Hurt Locker debuted – later winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Through panel discussions, music showcases and screenings, South by Southwest always creates awesome exposure for what is new and emerging.  So it’s no surprise Verizon has made its way to Austin this year.

Our own Eric Bruno, vice president of product development is participating on the panel 3 Screen Minimum: The Convergence of Social Media & TV on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Central Time.    Did you know a full 70 percent of US tablet owners say they use their devices while watching TV?  This panel is going to focus on how companies like Verizon are baking social into their products and enabling users to tweet, watch online videos and update Facebook directly from their TVs. Channels like Bravo capitalize on this by weaving emerging tech like Foursquare, Foodspotting and Shazam into their TV output, as well as having personalities engage actively with fans and critics on Twitter and other social media.

In addition to Eric Bruno, Soraya Darabi, co-founder of Foodspotting and Fred Harner, general manager of SportsNet NY (SNY) discuss what's next for the convergence of social media and TV.  Today’s consumer relies on Social Media for news and recommendations – whether it’s watching a movie or a TV program, consumers log onto to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and more to see what the latest trends are or what people are watching.  The power of social media is personalization and communal experiences.  That’s what FiOS TV is about too – personalization and discovery, making the entertainment experience unique. 

As you know, in July 2009 we were among the first to introduce Facebook and Twitter apps on FiOS TV and have continuously enhanced the apps to fit the evolving needs of our customers.  Customers can not only see what others are Tweeting about when they are watching their favorite shows, they can also interact and Tweet themselves.  Customers can update their Facebook status with the TV show they are viewing just by opening up the app – and we allow them to share their personal media (photos) using the biggest screen in the house. Since then we have focused on delivering interactive applications our customers can use each day, enabling them to live a borderless lifestyle.

So if you’re in Austin, be sure to stop by and check out 3 Screen Minimum and see what everyone is saying about Social Media and TV and where we’re headed.

[#2]

I use a few forums, this one included. Other than that I have unplugged. We have lost too much of our privacy as it is. So let us give more information out, with or without the Patriot Act. Thanks Bush.