Deep in the heart of Texas, tech and telecom firms, joined by a who’s who of policy leaders, have converged to chart what they hope is a successful path to the future where consumers will be crowned the winner.

And that’s a mighty good thing for people like you and me who crave reliable, high quality, easy-to-use and competitively priced wired and wireless services.

During this week’s Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) summit, industry leaders are grappling with hot topics ranging from wireless spectrum allocation to sustainability, while offering glimpses of the future in areas like 4G networks, Internet over-the-top services, home entertainment and applications that need super-fast broadband connections.

Treating customer service like a product can help ensure an entire company gets behind improving the overall customer experience, and that’s precisely what’s been happening at Verizon.

Our platform of self-service tools, introduced about 1 ½ years ago, are being used more all the time because they are fast, easy and convenient.  Today, almost one in every three customer interactions involving wireline services like FiOS and DSL-based Internet flow through our self service channels: myverizon.com support, Interactive Media Guide, In-Home Agent, interactive voice response unit and mobile  phone tools, and that number is expected to grow significantly.

In case you missed it this week, there was more news that TV is no longer a passive experience, even for the most dedicated couch potatoes.

While some industry executives debated whether or not viewers are cutting the cord, Verizon FiOS gave subscribers more ways to enjoy content on their own schedules and devices.

Earlier in the week, ESPN made its WatchESPN mobile service available on Android devices.  The app gives subscribers live access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com on Android phone and mobile devices.

Have you rented a video-on-demand title or watched a TV show on Netflix within the past week?  Could your experience have been better?  These questions kicked off yesterday’s panel discussion: “Winning the Click: Using Technology to Mix a Better On-Demand Cocktail,” at the On Demand Summit 3.0, presented by B&C/Multichannel News in New York City.

Most of the audience answered yes to the questions, prompting a lively discussion among executives from Rovi, Cox Communications, Viamedia iN Demand and Verizon’s Tricia Lynch, senior programming executive for FiOS video-on-demand.

In today’s Wall Street Journal, personal tech columnist Walt Mossberg talks about the growing popularity of watching television programs on devices other than a TV set.  Although he mentions computers and smartphones, he says the Apple iPad is especially good for this purpose.  

As TV viewers transition to this multi-screen world, it’s good to remember that FiOS TV offers a range of options for enjoying video whenever you want, wherever you want and on your favorite devices including the iPad.  We built our fiber-optic and 4G networks to enable this new world, and customers are enjoying more viewing benefits from these powerful networks every day.

Editor’s Note: Today’s guest blogger, Brian Roberts, has been the Creative Lead for the FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide from its inception. The Interactive Media Guide is the navigation system (that includes search, browse and menu options) for all content available on FiOS TV. Brian has had the time of his life working intimately with partners in marketing, development and usability to bring each release of the Interactive Media Guide to life and into customers’ homes.  Above all else, Brian is a consumer and technophile and is told that he is addicted to “things that plug in.”

By Brian Roberts

Designing for the FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide is literally about making millions of people happy.  We know that FiOS TV customers will have to use it to navigate an ocean of entertainment every day, so we strive to provide an unobtrusive and delightful experience that will appeal to the majority.  We want customers to feel excitement and pride about their technology choice while others are green with envy.  We would never get the experience right in a million years without putting the customer first and understanding their expectations, needs and wants of the entertainment service that they put their trust in.

Do you live on Long Island, N.Y.?  Then you probably already know about Verizon FiOS1 Long Island, a news and community channel only for Verizon FiOS customers on Long Island.  But have you seen the three new shows that debuted on FiOS1 this year?  And are you ready to watch the New York Giants draft show on FiOS1?

If you’re a Long Island foodie looking for new restaurants to sample, then check out “Restaurant Hunter.”  Airing every Thursday at 8 p.m., each half-hour show hosted by Rob Petrone focuses on the Long Island restaurant and food scene.  As an added bonus, many of the restaurants become part of the expanded Verizon Perks program, offering Verizon residential customers discounts, information and other unexpected promotions from national and Long Island brands and stores.  

FiOS TV continues to set the pace for TV viewing innovation with added capabilities and content including the recently launched IMG 1.9 upgrade that will keep rolling out to more FiOS TV markets in the weeks and months ahead.  This rapidly evolving viewing landscape has benefitted from our FiOS TV team’s foresight enhanced by valuable customer feedback.

Today’s news is that Verizon FiOS has further upped the ante and now delivers more than 24,000 monthly Video on Demand (VOD) titles.  That’s a choice of 24,000 different TV shows and movies available in every FiOS TV market, every month – and 15,000 of those titles are free.  Plus, FiOS TV VOD includes 3,800 high-def VOD titles per month.

At first glance, many Verizon buildings look like rather traditional brick and mortar facilities.  But wander inside one of our concept centers, customer experience labs or a research and design hub, and you’ll find that it’s home to many of the industry’s brightest minds and sharpest thinkers.

Their workday is all about delivering you the types of services that simplify life; make life fun; and help you stay connected with the people and places most important to you.

But here’s the kicker.  All of our visions of sleek applications, widgets and tools to make your broadband and entertainment experience second to none would not happen without your input.  That’s right – you, the Verizon customer – are members of our innovation nation, and we’re grateful.

Editor's Note: Joe Ambeault will answer your FiOS TV questions on Wednesday, April 20 at noon and 8 p.m. EDT when he is featured on "Meet the Expert" in the Verizon Community Forums. To learn how you can participate, please visit: http://bit.ly/gGtqYU

In keeping with our commitment to provide FiOS TV viewers with information about modifications and enhancements to their service, we are providing release notes for version 1.9 of the Interactive Media Guide (IMG) software for your FiOS TV DVR and set-top boxes.  IMG 1.9 is beginning its deployment activities in Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and Harrisburg. It will be delivered to the rest of the FiOS TV markets over the next couple months.

Earth Day is quickly approaching on April 22, and many of us will be doing our part to contribute.  If you’re looking for a little education along with some entertainment, check out the “Earth Day” folder on FiOS TV Video on Demand.

You can find it by clicking on Menu > Video on Demand > Browse All > What’s Hot > Earth Day.

As recently promised, Fox Soccer HD is officially launching on FiOS TV!

As many of you already know, Fox Soccer broadcasts more than 400 live events every year, including the UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League and Italy’s Serie A, as well as nightly soccer news.  Fox Soccer HD can be found on FiOS TV Channel 584 (the SD channel is on 84).  It’s available to all FiOS TV customers who subscribe to the Extreme HD or Ultimate HD packages.

These days, it seems that more people are watching TV programming on everything but their TVs.  Do you know about all that you get as a Verizon FiOS customer?

First we made TV programming available online in 2005.  Then we expanded by offering certain programming on mobile devices with Verizon Wireless V CAST service and, more recently, FiOS TV’s Flex View.  And, in the last year we’ve expanded FiOS TV Online to include everything from HBO, EPIX, TNT and TBS to live streaming of CNN.

Since last year when we first introduced MASN2 HD to FiOS TV customers in parts of Maryland, Virginia and the D.C. metro area, we’ve heard from many of you about expanding the channel to everyone in the region.  We have good news: the time has finally come!

Starting this Monday, April 4, MASN2 HD will become available to all of our FiOS TV customers in the region, including Maryland, Virginia and the D.C. metro area.  We’ve also been able to expand the channel to our customers in Harrisburg, PA.  Unfortunately it’s not in Delaware at this time, but we’re looking into that.

Top Cities. Best Restaurants. Best Sellers. The dreaded shopping list. Who doesn’t love a good list?

And for your viewing convenience, we’ve pulled together a few lists to help you find what’s hot on FiOS TV.

Whether you’re curious about what others or watching or you just want to get the buzz around the virtual TV water cooler, you can get regular updates of Hot On TV, Hot On Demand, Top Recordings and Top Searches (on FiOS). They’re all found online at FiOS TV Central or in the FiOS TV menu by clicking Search and then What’s Hot on FiOS.

Ultimate devices need an ultimate network, and Verizon’s all-fiber-optic network now delivers more exciting 3D content for customers to enjoy on their 3D TVs.

First, we expect to launch ESPN 3D on Tuesday, April 5, on channel 1002, just in time for the Masters Golf tournament.  With 3D, it’ll be the next best thing to walking over the pine needles with patrons at the Augusta National Golf Club.

ESPN 3D can be viewed by customers who have a 3D TV set, 3D glasses and a high-definition set-top box.  The new channel is included for any FiOS TV customer who subscribes to our Ultimate HD package, and is available to everyone else on its own for $9.99 per month.

In the last few weeks we’ve given FiOS TV customers a lot of new programming options, first with the launch of ESPN live online streaming and next with MTV programming online, including “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom 2.”  Not to mention the latest in 3D, featuring the recent UFC live event.  Today we have more to tell, with the addition of truTV HD to the FiOS TV lineup.

As you may know, truTV offers original programming and is one of only four channels that will broadcast the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.  What does this mean for you?  It means that FiOS TV customers can watch every tournament game in high definition.

It’s time for more free stuff!  You know we always like to tell you about anything free that you get as a FiOS TV customer. And starting today, you have a month filled with free programming.

First up is Fox Soccer Plus, the premium channel that normally costs $14.99 a month.  But from today through Sunday, March 13, FiOS customers can enjoy the soccer programming on channel 1009 for free.  Today and tomorrow catch the UEFA Champions League Second Leg, and on Saturday is the FA Cup 6^th round.  Some of you may be thinking, “What about Fox Soccer Channel HD?”  It’s one of the next HD channels to be added on FiOS TV.  But for now, enjoy this other soccer programming for free.

A lot of you have asked us about FiOS TV’s plans for 3D.  And today we have some great news.  This Thursday, March 3, FiOS TV will air the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in 3D.  The 3D telecast will air live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The highly anticipated card is headlined by a welterweight clash between Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann, from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.  The telecast will feature play-by-play from veteran Todd Harris, along with UFC featherweight star Kenny Florian. 

Recently we told you about four ESPN channels now being streamed live online for FiOS TV customers.  Today, we have more great news for you about our FiOS TV Online website as we launch MTV online.

FiOS TV customers are the first in the country to be able to watch MTV programming online.  Two of the most popular shows – “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom 2” – are available along with other shows like “Teen Cribs,” “True Life,” “The Real World: New Orleans” and “I Used To Be Fat.”

Coming soon will be a handful of other MTV shows like “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” “Cribs,” “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory” and the upcoming season of “The Real World: Las Vegas.” 

Let’s face it – a night at the movies can be expensive.  The average price for a movie ticket in the U.S. is $7.89.  Where I live, that’s the price of a child’s ticket – adults are $10 each.  My family often turns to Video on Demand for a more cost-effective movie night, in the comfort of our own home.  And now FiOS is making it even less expensive with FiOS Movie Night.

Every Friday, beginning today, Verizon will make three movies available on demand at the discounted price of $2.99 each, many of which will be offered in HD.  Today’s movies are “Secretariat,” the true story of Penny Chenery Tweedy and her stallion who set the record for winning the Triple Crown; “Red,” about a former CIA agent played by Bruce Willis; and “Takers,” about a group of bank robbers that includes two of my personal favorites – Matt Damon and Paul Walker.  All three of these movies are offered in both SD and HD for just $2.99 each.

Words evolve over time and so do lifestyles.  Case in point: home entertainment is no longer confined to the home. Verizon customers can now access their home Internet, TV and landline service anywhere, anytime via their smartphones, laptops or tablet devices.

You’re also using home TVs to access social networks like Facebook and Twitter as well as fantasy football.  And Verizon makes it even better with free widgets and live online programming like the recently added ESPN channels.

While you and I speculate on who’s going to win which big movie award on Sunday night, television executives and advertisers are betting we’ll be gathering around today’s “electronic water cooler”—Twitter — while we watch the show, commenting on every gorgeous gown, celebrity couple, too-long acceptance speech and everything else, the second it appears on our TVs.

Monday’s New York Times reported that Twitter deepens audience participation in TV shows.  Live sports, reality shows, music awards or even the local news can turn into Tweetups and Twestivals these days.

Traveling is tough, whether you’re on your own or with your family.  Whether it’s dinner out at a restaurant or flying on an airplane, I find myself bringing an entire bag full of toys, coloring books and anything else I think of that might entertain my toddler. And forget about traveling or trying to go out to dinner on a Thursday night or a Sunday during football season.  My husband needs a way to watch his teams.  One thing that helps is the ability to watch my husband’s favorite team play – or my son’s favorite TV shows or movies – on our cell phones and laptops.  And Verizon makes accessing this programming very easy.

With Flex View, for example, our FiOS customers can buy or rent movies and watch them on the TV, PC or a growing number of mobile devices.  So I could get “Despicable Me” and download it to my phone for easy, out-of-the-home viewing.

More people than ever now rely on Verizon’s advanced networks to keep them connected to their lives wherever they go.

This month iPhone lovers began flocking to Verizon Wireless to put their favorite mobile device together with the nation’s most reliable wireless network.  And oh, what a difference!

Verizon also wants America to know that their iPhones can integrate with FiOS TV and the nation’s most advanced, all-fiber-optic network.  We’ve got a new TV ad launching tonight—on Valentine’s Day—that shows what a happy couple the FiOS iPhone app and FiOS TV can be.

Have you heard about the house parties Verizon FiOS helped to host this past Sunday night?  After receiving approximately 5,000 applications, we selected 1,000 FiOS TV customers from across the country to host parties at their homes for Sunday’s big football game.  We gave them party packs complete with a digital camera to show off pictures, and football party favors like inflatable footballs and pom-poms.  Hosts traded party plans, recipes and posted pictures on the House Party website, and it sounds like hosts and guests had a good time. In fact, two of our hosts had this to say about the experience:

Regular readers of the At Home blog know that we always like to tell you about any new free stuff, and we’ve got quite a bit to tell today.

We have two free previews for FiOS TV customers in February and a chance for people in the New York metro area to win a cool tablet or smartphone.  First, to help celebrate the Lunar New Year, we’re offering a look at FiOS TV’s Korean and Chinese channels until Feb. 8. The Lunar Free Preview includes:

Chances are you’re one of the many people across the country stuck indoors because of the snow and ice.  And that probably means another snow day for your kids or at least a delayed opening or early dismissal.  Not to worry – FiOS TV has plenty to keep you and the family busy.

As you probably know, FiOS TV Video on Demand offers more than 19,000 monthly titles, including hundreds of new releases.  If you’re looking for something for the kids right now, check out “Despicable Me,” “Shrek Forever After,” “Alpha and Omega” or “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.”

What do Verizon’s Maitreyi Krishnaswamy and comedian Jimmy Fallon have in common?  Both were featured speakers at the TVnext  event last Friday in Boston.  Ok, Jimmy wasn’t there in person, but he did provide this video to Hill Holiday, the ad agency that organized the event, which was all about making TV social and portable.

Jimmy talked about how he has made social media – particularly Twitter – a major part of his TV show.  As readers of the At Home blog know, making social media a part of your TV viewing experience is something Verizon has been focused on for a long time.

Maitreyi, who is director of interactive video services for FiOS, joined a panel that looked at how television is becoming portable.  She was talking about how Verizon’s fiber-optic network is uniquely positioned to lead the way with multiscreen TV.  She explained how Verizon is the first company to offer a truly flexible video-on-demand capability with Flex View.

Congratulations to Verizon Wireless, which today announced its newest smartphone, the iPhone 4.

The iPhone is one of several Apple devices compatible with FiOS Mobile, our free app that lets customers use their mobile device as a remote control and DVR manager. The feature is available on more than 40 mobile devices.

FiOS TV customers have been able to use their iPhones and iPod Touch devices with FiOS Mobile since October of 2010.  We added the iPad to the list of supported devices in December of last year.  Now, customers can also buy an iPhone from Verizon and enjoy the benefits of the nation’s largest and most reliable network.