Verizon is taking another step toward video content being made available anytime anywhere with its new FiOS Flex View offering. The feature lets you rent or purchase an on-demand offering and have it immediately available to watch on up to five different devices.
Instead of using streaming video, Flex View downloads the content to your smart phone or computer, so you don’t need to be online while you’re watching your selection. Not surprisingly, mobile device support is Verizon Wireless-oriented to start, with compatibility for units like the Blackberry Storm2, HTC HD2, Motorola Droid 2 and Droid X, and no support yet for iPhones or iPads. This feature will get more interesting next year when Flex View will let you access media files that you upload for consumption across your various screens.
Flex View is free for FiOS subscribers, and available today to most subscribers, with support for all subscribers by the end of the month. No word on whether you can start watching a video on one device and resume on another screen in the exact same spot. Also, no word on when this new feature will hit non-Verizon mobile devices, which could give other pay TV providers an opening to reach iPhones and iPads first with similar offerings for their subscribers.
[Via Engadget]
