Instead of fighting over the TV remote control, Verizon FIOS customers in the same household will soon be able to access the fiber-optic provider's shows via Wi-Fi on a tablet device so they can watch in different rooms.

Verizon Communications announced Wednesday that it is talking to its partners about streaming content to Apple's iPad through a new application called What's Hot, which will display thumbnails of programming in the user's area and turn the device into a mobile version of set-top devices that steam TV to computers. The service is planned for next year and eventually may include tablet reception outside the home.

The service is expected to be free, although content providers may demand fees from Verizon for adding their movies and shows to additional screens. The company will also develop applications for other tablets as the market for those devices grows.

A Software Set-Top

"Technologically, there's no difference between this and the set-top box," Verizon Chief Information Officer Shaygan Kheradpir told reporters during a demonstration at his New York apartment, as reported by Dow Jones.

Verizon also announced a service available later this year that will allow FIOS customers to stream content such as rental movies to up to five devices, including handsets, that run operating systems by Research In Motion, Google and Microsoft. That app will also allow sharing of photos and music.

The technology for streaming TV and video content to mobile devices is nothing new, said analyst Jeff Orr of ABI Research. It already exists in such services as Sprint Nextel's MobiTV, while CNN streams live programming to its web site.

Under Verizon's plan, "FiOS would likely be the content-distribution network and the FiOS network into the home would be the pipe to carry the IP data," Orr said. "From there, a media tablet -- and any other computing device -- could receive the content stream over a home network."

Questions in the Air

But Orr said the immediate success of the venture depends on how many FIOS subscribers have Wi-Fi access and media tablets at home, and whether the typical Wi-Fi connection speed will slow the programming.

"Are 802.11b speeds sufficient for an acceptable viewing experience, or is 802.11g or 802.11n a baseline performance requirement?" Orr wondered. Another wrinkle: How will Verizon safeguard the connection to keep freeloaders from getting access from a neighbor's unsecured Wi-Fi?

But if they pull it off, Verizon can claim a leg up on such competitors as Comcast, Time Warner and Cox. "I am not aware of any of these cable video providers offering program content 'simulcast' to computing devices in and around the home currently," Orr said. "But it's certainly something each could offer, given their multiplay video and broadband service offerings."

x

More in Apple iPad Info:

Plastic Logic Drops QUE To Work on New E-Reader... Read More >