Verizon Wireless partners with MTV Networks

Internet Business News, March 31, 2008

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Verizon Wireless, a provider of wireless voice and data network and a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) (LSE: VOD), and MTV Networks (MTVN), a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA)(NYSE: VIA.B), announced on Friday (28 March) the launch of mobile websites for MTV, VH1, COMEDY CENTRAL, Nickelodeon, and CMT on Verizon Wireless' Mobile Web 2.0 service.

According to the company, the MTVN mobile websites include: MTV offering MTV News, show information, and music, featuring bios of artists and blog posts from the 51 citizen journalists covering the 2008 election as part of the Choose or Lose initiative; VH1 featuring the 'Best Week Ever' Blog, the VH1 Blog, celebrity photo flipbooks, music and artist features, and VH1 News commentary; COMEDY CENTRAL with a 'Joke of the Day,' a 'What's Your Sign' horoscope and a section dedicated to 'South Park' series; Nickelodeon featuring child-oriented content including pictures, flipbooks, polls, and games; as well as CMT with news updates and show information.

In addition to the newly launched WAP sites, Verizon Wireless offers V CAST Video channels for MTVN's MTV, Nickelodeon, COMEDY CENTRAL, VH1, CMT, Logo, Spike, MTV Tr3s, and Atom Films.

Mobile Web 2.0 can be self-provisioned. Customers need to register on their Mobile Web 2.0-capable handsets by visiting the News and Info category under the Get It Now menu on their phones, the company claims.

Unlimited Mobile Web 2.0 usage is included with a USD15 monthly V CAST VPak subscription, which also includes access to V CAST Video, V CAST Music and Get It Now applications. Customers can also access Mobile Web for free with a Nationwide Plan but will incur usage charges of USD1.99 per megabyte.

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