Live TV Debuts on Verizon Wireless Cell Phones in San Diego Thanks to Qualcomm Subsidiary MediaFLO USA
V CAST Mobile TV Now Available in San Diego
SAN DIEGO and IRVINE, Calif. – April 17, 2008 – Cell phone users in San Diego can now access live television programming on the go with MediaFLO USA's FLO TV™ service, which launched in San Diego today with Verizon Wireless as V CAST Mobile TV. A subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, MediaFLO USA's FLO TV service lets Verizon Wireless subscribers watch many of their favorite television shows from the convenience of their cell phones, wherever and whenever they want.
"Qualcomm is committed to mobilizing an increasingly broad range of people's lives, starting with communications and now increasingly moving to entertainment and information access," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm. "Today marks a special milestone as we launch the revolutionary FLO TV service in San Diego – the city that will be known as the birthplace of yet another defining mobile technology. With this launch of FLO TV, we are excited to provide San Diegans with the opportunity to experience the best of live TV on their mobile phones."
With MediaFLO USA's FLO TV service, V CAST Mobile TV subscribers can flip from one channel to the next to watch popular, full–length programming on select Verizon Wireless mobile phones. MediaFLO USA's dedicated multicast network brings top programming from some of the industry's best entertainment brands, including CBS, CBS College Sports, CBS News, Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX, FOX News, FOX Sports, MTV, NBC, NBC Sports, NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, NickToons and Nickelodeon. V CAST Mobile TV subscribers also have exclusive access to two channels on the FLO TV service: MTV Tr3s and an ESPN Radio channel.
"We have defined the mobile TV experience in more than 50 markets nationwide, but today's San Diego launch marks a very special milestone for MediaFLO USA as we bring our award–winning FLO TV service to our hometown," said Gina Lombardi, president of MediaFLO USA. "With FLO TV, San Diegans can now enjoy a true mobile entertainment experience with a crisp, clear picture, superb audio quality and many of their favorite primetime shows, breaking news and sports."
"The FLO TV service offers a true high–quality television experience with a range of channels and great shows from which to choose," said John Palmer, regional president of Verizon Wireless. "Our San Diego customers can now carry their TVs with them in the palms of their hands and watch live television anytime, anywhere."
Since launching the FLO TV service on V CAST Mobile TV in March 2007, MediaFLO USA has delivered more than 2,500 hours of live sporting events, including college basketball, college football, men's professional basketball games, English Premier League soccer, MLS soccer, X Games, NASCAR Racing and tennis from the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. The FLO TV service offers an exciting new programming lineup that features some of the season's most compelling new shows, ranging from "Big Brother 9" (CBS Mobile) and "UnHitched" (FOX Mobile) to primetime favorites like "The Hills" (MTV), "Medium" (NBC 2Go) and "Prison Break" (FOX Mobile). The FLO TV service also comes with parental control features so that parents can monitor and restrict the programs their children view on V CAST Mobile TV.
San Diego-area Verizon Wireless customers can get hands-on demonstrations of the VCAST Mobile TV service at Verizon Wireless Communication Stores throughout the region. For more information, please visit the V CAST Mobile TV Web site at www.verizonwireless.com/mobiletv.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast–quality video footage and high–resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About MediaFLO USA Inc.
MediaFLO USA Inc. unleashes the power of TV for mobile consumers, combining the best content, an intuitive user interface and a superior multicast network to deliver a true TV experience. The award–winning FLO TV service from MediaFLO USA offers full–length simulcast and time–shifted programming from the world's best entertainment brands, including CBS, CBS College Sports, CBS News, Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX, FOX News, FOX Sports, MTV, NBC, NBC Sports, NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, NickToons and Nickelodeon. Based in San Diego, Calif., MediaFLO USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Further information is available at both www.mediaflousa.com and www.flotv.com.
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Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. MediaFLO and FLO TV are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Qualcomm Contacts:
Melinda Hutcheon, MediaFLO USA Inc.
Phone: 1–858–651–7334
Email: melindah@mediaflousa.com
Emily Kilpatrik, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1–858–845–5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
John Gilbert, Investor Relations
Phone: 1–858–658–4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
Verizon Wireless contact:
Ken Muché, Public Relations
Phone: 1–949–286–8193
Email: ken.muche@verizonwireless.com