Verizon at Home

[#1]

I was sitting in the doctor’s office the other day—you know, the room they call you back to so you can wait an additional hour on top of the hour you’ve already spent in the waiting room? As I played Jewels on my Droid X, I rejoiced that cell phones have eliminated the need to read last year’s issue of RV Monthly when it’s the only magazine in the doctor’s basket. 

Now I can’t wait until I have time on my hands again because I’m going to entertain myself with a movie by using Flex View – a new extension of FiOS TV that Verizon introduced today.  Flex View gives me a video store at my fingertips on my TV, PC or laptop, and cell phone or another mobile device, and lets me watch more than 1,400 FiOS Video on Demand movies on all of them. I can even pick up watching my movie on one device at the spot where I left off watching on another.  

I don’t have to be in FiOS territory to use Flex View. I can download the video to my mobile device, PC or laptop for future use, or access it online with any broadband connection through Media Manager.

In the future, Flex View will expand to also include episodic and live TV and more and more viewing devices.  With Flex View, Verizon again is forging the future of TV, where wireless and broadband networks intersect to put consumers in control through time- and place-shifting on a new and higher level.  We’ve already seen this with FiOS innovations like multi-room DVR, remote DVR programming, on-screen access to Internet content and applications and more. Flex View takes FiOS subscribers further into a new TV paradigm where they are in charge.

The real beauty of Flex View to me, as a FiOS TV subscriber, is that other than paying for a movie I was going to rent or buy anyway, it’s all at no additional charge and there’s no hassle of buying and setting up new equipment.  I don’t have to have a game player to stream content. Or a brand new TV with built-in multimedia applications.  Or an additional subscription to a movie rental service. I now have a video store at my fingertips, courtesy of my FiOS service.

So the next time I’m in a waiting room, or have bored teens in the SUV, or travelling on business or on vacation, I’ll have instant movies to the rescue. George Clooney beats RV Monthly any day.

[#2]

When will FlexView have HD titles available? How can there be 1,400 titles available and not one of them in HD?

Also, I see that you say above that you can pause programming on one device and then watch on another device where you left off. I don't see where this is available. I just read the FAQs for FlexView and it says that this functionality is not available. Please explain how you are able to do this.

[#3]

Where do I find flexview?  Not so easy to locate

[#4]

When will this be supported by the original Motorola Droid?

[#5]

ww26,

Thank you for your questions.  On the first one, Flex View offers HD titles today, and we plan to grow the number of HD titles included as we add more to the library.  On the second question, sorry for the confusion.  Right now, Flex View doesn't support pausing on one device and watching on another where you left off -- although we expect to introduce it in the future.  Keep in mind, if you have FiOS TV's Home Media DVR, you can pause a program in one room, and then resume playing it in another room.  You can even choose to rent a program on one TV and then watch it on another TV in your house.

Heather

[#6]

jumpin68ny,

On FiOS TV, Flex View videos are part of Video on Demand.  Flex View titles are found in a “Flex View” folder within the “Featured” or “Browse All” sections of the VOD menu.  If you’re on your PC or laptop, you’ll need to access Flex View through Media Manager.  Click the Flex View icon on the Media Manager interface to purchase or rent a title and start watching.  If you’re using one of the compatible mobile devices, download the Flex View app called “Media Manager Mobile” at https://m.verizon.com/apps/ .  

Bobbi

[#7]

seltzer 77,

Sorry, but we don't have plans to add the original Droid at this time.

Bobbi

[#8]

Ok this is great but the prices are just outragous.  "The Ten Commandments" is $9.99 and a favorite movie of my wife's "It Happen One Night" is $16.99?  For a classic movie from 1934 you want $16.99?  Why are these prices so insane?  

[#9]

Question:  If you purchase a a movie through Flex View and later move to a non-FiOS area, do you still own the copy of the movie on your laptop or wireless phone?  Or, is it lost once you no longer subscribe to FiOS?

[#10]

thetick1234,

The prices you mention are purchase prices -- you pay once and then can access the title an unlimited number of times over an indefinite period of time, free from any problems common with a hard DVD like scratches and smudges  that affect quality. 

Heather

[#11]

ABetterWaytoLiv,

Of course, we  hope you continue to enjoy FiOS for many years to come.  However, should you move, you can still view purchased videos after you disconnect your Verizon services as long as you maintain your User ID and password at the Flex View Store.  If you terminate your FiOS TV service, then you will not be able to view Flex View videos on your TV using the FiOS TV Interactive Guide.  However, this doesn't prevent you from viewing your purchased videos on other authorized devices.

Heather

[#12]

How long will it take for a title to download? Can I start viewing it before download has finished?

[#13]

AE,

The time it takes to download a title with Flex View depends on the network you are connected to. If you have the FiOS 15/5 Mbps service, for example, a typical 2-hour movie will take less than 14 minutes to download. Additionally, you cannot start viewing a title until the download is complete.

Heather

[#14]

When will the free content be available on the flexview? 

[#15]

Hi, gatorman,

We don't have information about any free Flex View content.  But you can continue to check back here for updates about what's new  on Flex View.

Bobbi

[#16]

Bobbi:

  I know I'm asking everyone the same question, but when is ESPN 3D coming to FIOS?   The biggest 3D event ever is just days away - the BCS Championship Game - and it seems that FIOS will not carry it!  If you already signed a deal with ESPN I don't understand why they can't show the game.   I actually had a DIRECT TV sales guy pitch me on their service after I told him I had a 3D set - he said Verizon is slow in their 3D content compared with DTV.   He has a point.   I pay a small mortgage to Verizon each month under the premise that you are providing cutting edge content.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/news/story?id=5809112

[#17]

Hmm.  $16.99 for movies and NO free movies I'll pass on Flex View.  Personally I would rather have the DVD.  I've had DVD for decades and never had a scratch nor any kind of quality loss.  Also what does infinite time mean?  What if Verizon decides it no can no longer compete with free IPTV (if that ever happens)?  DVDs or Blue Ray Discs are a much better option.  

Just as a note I'm very happy with my FIOS triple play service and would rather see Verizon add missting channels like WPIX sub channels instead of inventing expensive options.

[#18]

New to FiOS and smitten. I thought the installer said I could watch my DVR recordings on my Android. Was he incorrect? I can't soon to figure it out. Have tried all FiOS apps in the Android market. Please explain. Thanks!

[#19]

*seem

[#20]

@jbosari, you can manage your DVR recordings and schedule new ones on your Android device. You can even use your Android device as a complete remote control for your FiOS TV, which I personally find very useful.

All of that (and more) is available through the MyFiOS app. However, currently, watching your DVR recordings on an Android device is not possible. Only Flex View titles you purchase (or rent) would be viewable on your compatible Android device.

[#21]

Tried Flexview today on my MacBook pro and my iPad. Downloaded to iPad movie stopped 17 minutes in, could not get it to go. Got frustrated and went to the MacBook to resume watching after watching it for 10minutes got frustrated because the streaming was so bad so I decided to download it which required installing Verizon's media blender which wanted all kinds of access permissions. Bottom line, I ate the five buck rental fee, deleted the app and software from my Mac, them rented the movie through iTunes. Not worth the aggrevation.

[#22]

Are there plans to support the Nook? If Flexview does not support the Nook is there a way to download the movies and watch them on the Nook?

[#23]

 Why can you Not purchase or rent a title.. the same title at the same time. when a movie shows up it says rent N/A and only for purchase. then you have to wait a month until that movie becomes available to rent. I can get them for rent now on M=Go or any other streaming site.