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Verizon Soft-Launches Its Second V Cast TV Handset

Remember the hullabaloo that was made over Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV service a few weeks ago? The second-largest U.S. carrier began offering its mobile TV service in select markets on one handset beginning March 1. Today, it made the second mobile TV-capable handset available, the LG vx9400, for $200. Too bad Verizon didn't make the service available in any other markets.

Both the Samsung u620 and LG vx9400 were shown at CES back in January, but for one reason or another the LG was not part of the V Cast Mobile TV launch several weeks ago. Well, the lucky inhabitants of the 18 markets where Mobile TV is available now have both from which to choose.

The Mobile TV service is enabled by technology from Qualcomm's MediaFLO unit. MediaFLO runs and operates a separate network to broadcast the mobile TV signals.

The Samsung runs $150 after rebates and promotions and looks like a regular slider-style phone. The LG has a screen that swivels to provide users with a landscape view and will cost interested parties $200. Both phones sport all the latest advancements, of course, as well as access to most of Verizon's services.

User choice is cool and all, but where are the additional markets that Verizon said it would be adding over time? I know it's only been three weeks, but c'mon! Inhabitants of markets not served by V Cast Mobile TV can only hope that next week's CTIA Wireless show will offer us some positive steps in the mobile TV coverage department.

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