Go90, the new mobile video service by Verizon Wireless, has officially launched to the public, which means that it is now made widely available, not only for subscribers of the biggest wireless carrier in the United States, but also to all mobile users signed up under other networks. The Big Red is targeting the younger demographic for its Go90 service, making it available on both the iTunes App Store and Google Play.
Verizon Wireless had previously launched the beta version of the Go90 mobile video service last month in the early part of September. That time, only a handful of specific Verizon subscribers (as well as a few customers from other wireless carriers) were permitted to test the beta version of the service.
For a bit of background, Verizon’s mobile video service got its name from the way mobile users flip their handset horizontally in order to watch video content. Now that it is widely available to the public, it is now considered one of various offerings from TV and communications providers who are looking to take advantage of the decline of subscriptions of cable television services, as more and more consumers now turn to streaming services as provided by Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon, among many others.
As for Verizon’s Go90, it will likely contend against services offered by Dish TV (which is providing a cross platform streaming version of cable TV with Sling TV), as well as a couple of streaming services by Comcast, namely Stream (a web based TV service) and Watchable (a newly launched mobile video app that offers web series and other online content).
The main difference between Go90 and its competitors is that Verizon’s video service solely focuses on mobile devices (especially those that run on the Android and the iOS mobile operating systems) instead of trying to create mobile apps to connect to TVs, streaming media players, or desktop computers. It does make sense for the Big Red to focus on mobile, it is a mobile wireless carrier after all, and the more people use their mobile devices (viewing video content), the more revenues it would be for Verizon Wireless. Also, Go90 is aiming to offer a combination of traditional TV content together with online videos and content from multiple channel networks. And do not forget live events, such as NFL matches and concerts.
To date, Go90 already offers networks such as Comedy Central, Food Network, ESPN, NFL Network, One World Sports, Discovery, VH1, MTV, SPIKE, TLC, Adult Swim, HGTV, BET, Investigation Discovery, New Form Digital, Univision, Viacom, AwesomenessTV, Vice, Tastemade, Maker Studios, Fullscreen, Stylehaul, Collective Digital, Machinima, EliteDaily, DEFY, Legendary, AOL/HuffPo, and many others. For more of the Big Red’s services, you can start comparing Verizon Wireless plans at Wirefly now.
