Verizon at Home

[#1]

One of the big themes from CES this year is there are now a lot of TVs and devices that connect to the Internet.  Verizon does it differently -- connecting people to the Internet through our network via FiOS TV.  FiOS TV Widgets use this network connection to deliver Internet content to the TV screen.  I sat down with Verizon's Maitreyi Krishnaswamy, who directs interactive services, to talk about FiOS TV Widgets and plans for 2010.

What makes FiOS TV Widgets different?

a) Wide variety of content - The Widget Bazaar App Store has something for everyone - sports ( NFL, NBA ), shopping ( HSN ) , Games ( Sudoku, Chess, Reversi), Social networking ( Facebook ,Twitter) and more.

b) Highly responsive applications with minimal latency.

c) Contextual -- to video programming and channel being viewed.

d) Efficient deployment - New FiOS TV Widgets and feature updates can be deployed relatively quickly almost at the same pace as Internet applications and Web sites.

How do Widgets work on the FiOS TV platform?

FiOS TV remote controls have a dedicated Widgets button that allows customers to instantly access the Widgets selection in the Widget Bazaar Store while watching any video channel. From there customers can select Widgets of their choice and view content.

Most Widgets are in a half screen or three quarter screen format allowing the customer to quickly access up-to-the minute information on sports , news, weather, traffic or even the latest feedback on the TV show they are watching without tuning away from the video channel.

Why has Verizon taken this network-centric approach?

Verizon as a video operator is uniquely positioned as we have a hybrid IP/ broadcast network.  Each of our set top boxes has an IP connection that allows interactivity. FiOS TV Widgets allow us to quickly fetch data from trusted content partners' Web servers and present them contextually on the TV.  Widgets truly leverage the speed and power of our 100 Mbps network.

What are the advantages to consumers?

There are several advantages our customers have with FiOS TV Widgets:

Convenience - ability to view contextual and relevant information while watching TV.  (No need to log into a PC or mobile device.)

Social and Interactive TV experience - much more engaging than a passive TV experience with our Facebook and Twitter Widgets.

Wide Widget content choices - in addition to a wide variety of content genres, customers can get access to free, premium or transactional widgets and games.

Increased Value - FiOS TV Widgets provide much more value to FiOS TV content packages and engage customers.  For example, we offer an NBA LEAGUE PASS Widget that provides, league news, scores and rosters to all our customers and provides game alerts, free for NBA LEAGUE PASS subscribers.

What can customers look forward to in 2010 in terms of Widgets?

• Widgets for multicultural audiences
• More sports Widgets
• Wider choice of games titles
• Program -specific Widgets - interactive reality shows, series

Do customers like Widgets?

Our customers love Widgets.  We have had a tremendous response and we look forward to introducing more interactive Widgets for customers to enjoy.

[#2]

I wish Verizon would put some effort into a local community widget. They have the space appropriated in their widget menu for FiOS but in my neighborhood (90066) there is nothing giving me the hyperlocal information that I'm looking for. I'd even be interested in developing a widget that supports and provides information about my local community, local merchants, local government. It seems that the effort is into broad widgets which are more of a distraction than an augmentation of my television viewing. More to the point, the Twitter widget - for example - is more often than not irrelevant to the programming that I am watching and does not refresh in semi real time while I have it on. The comments are often not pertinent to the program that I am watching and are a couple of days old. The cache seems to be poorly designed and the metadata being used to pull the relevant Twitter info is quite macro in what is being assessed. Getting back to the local - community widget, FiOS knows exactly who I am and where I am - a local community widget would be the most useful widget to use and would be pertinent to the entire FiOS audience. Moreover, there's some money in offering a hyper-local service.