Verizon Wireless TiVos DVR scheduling

Verizon Wireless and TiVo have signed an exclusive agreement for the nationwide carrier to debut TiVo Mobile, a new downloadable application that lets TiVo service subscribers schedule recordings on their TiVo digital video recorder devices directly from Verizon's Get It Now-equipped handsets. The offering will begin this summer.

"This arrangement will allow the growing base of TiVo subscribers to integrate control of their TV life with the most widespread piece of consumer electronics, the wireless phone," said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo, in a statement from the two companies.

Users will be able to download the application from the Verizon Wireless Get It Now suite of services onto applicable handsets. Verizon Wireless and TiVo will also collaborate on a joint marketing campaign to promote availability of the new TiVo Mobile feature. Other details of the arrangement between the two companies were not disclosed.

TiVo, which has about 4 million subscribers, has been launching new initiatives over the last several months to stay competitive in the crowded markets for DVRs and related service. The service already has another type of Internet-based remote scheduling capability, and the company also has announced TiVoToGo, which allows synchronization between TiVo DVRs and devices such as laptops and iPods.

"TiVo Mobile will add yet another unique benefit to the Verizon Wireless Get It Now service by allowing our subscribers to be the first mobile users anywhere to schedule television recordings on TiVo using their mobile handset," said John Stratton, Verizon Wireless chief marketing officer, in the statement.