V CAST

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V CAST is a 3G EV-DO network created by Verizon used for streaming of video clips and music. The typical download speed is between 400 and 700 kilobits per second with burst speeds of up to 2 megabits per second. Some videos may be saved to the phone or a removable memory card, which cannot be read by other phones or computers. V CAST is heavily protected by digital rights management software based on Windows Media Video 9 and developed by PacketVideo [1]. There is buffering before the video stream is played and possibly during video playback, depending on the quality of the connection. V CAST is implemented as a permanently installed BREW application on a V CAST compatible phone. The V CAST application will not allow videos to play or even to navigate menus if there is no EV-DO coverage available. Contrast this to Sprint's MobiTV system which operates over 1xRTT, the predecessor to EV-DO. V CAST will only fall back to the slower 1x when a V CAST user leaves an EV-DO area in the middle of a video clip.

V CAST is one of the few mobile phone-based systems on which more advanced games including 3-D graphics can be played. The graphic quality of these games is similar to the original Sony PlayStation or the Sega Saturn. Most, but not all, V CAST games require air-time for use.

1 Video content (as of February 2007)
2 Pricing
3 V CAST enabled phones
4 External links

[edit] Video content (as of February 2007)

Music
- CMT
- Music Videos
- V CAST Performances
Showcase
- Supernatural
- The OC
- SmashBrain
- V CAST This Week
- Stand Up
- Movie Trailers
- Ugly Betty Telenovela
- People's Choice
- SI's Riffs of Reilly
- Estrellas del Futuro
Comedy
- Just for Laughs
- Comedy Central
News
- ABC News Now
- CBS News
- CNN to Go
- ET TO GO
- NBC Mobile
- The Wall Street Journal
Weather
- AccuWeather.com
- The Weather Channel
Entertainment
- Sesame Street
- Maxim
Sports
- Fox Sports
- Mobile ESPN (A relaunch of the former Sprint service]]
- fx
Net's Best
- YouTube
- Revver
- Heavy
- Atom Films
TV to Go
Latino
Kids
Spiritual

[edit] Pricing

V CAST service costs an additional $15 monthly fee(now, for some plans, it is free). The majority of videos available are included with the V CAST service plan. However, premium content such as sports clips and music videos may cost between $1.99 and $3.99 extra. Live concerts are typically offered for free with the V CAST subscription. V CAST games are more expensive than their traditional BREW counterparts; $4 to $5 for a monthly subscription plan and $9 to $10 for unlimited use. You can also download full-length songs with V CAST Music at $1.99 per song.