Mobile Diner® where wireless and washington meet….

The New York Times Reports that YouTube has announced an exclusive deal – for a limited time – with Verizon Wireless.  Overall, I think this is a great announcement.  However, there are some details that could be improved.

The Good – I think YouTube could ignite excitement in Mobile TV.  Analogous to AT&T Wireless’ sponsorship of American Idol and it helping to spur text messaging services, I believe this gets people interested in something they are not yet demanding.

The Bad -  I don’t like the $15 bucks-a-month subscription to VCast, the exclusive deal with Verizon and limited selection of videos.  As a frequent user of YouTube, I would not pay the $15 extra dollars to see videos that were pre-selected.  I may not even have access to “my favorites.”

The better barometer are folks in the diner.  Would you sign up for this service?

Any ideas for Verizon Wireless on how to offer this product?  What’s the recipe for success?

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Do folks in the Diner think an iPhone could be successful?  Contrary to what some analysts believe (Red Herring reports on it here), I believe there might be some limited potential for this product.   

Apple has tapped something special in consumers and created a sense of belonging by its users.  Whether it’s an iBook/iMac or an iPod, people (including me) love these products and it has propelled Apple’s stock to an all-time high.  Apple has gotten it right and could do the same with the iPhone should they pursue a leadership role and execute with the same vigor as their other products.

The dilemma for Apple is figuring out the best vehicle to deliver the voice product.  I see four options here with only two viable for the business: (1) Go Wi-Fi / Wi-Max, (2) Own the network, (3) Sell the product via the carriers or (4) MVNO.  If it’s a Wi-Fi enabled phone, you don’t have the reliability of the cellular network.  Most calls made on a cellular network are fixed but you don’t want to have to worry about whether your call will connect.  However, I do think this is the best route as everything evolves to IP.  With regard to being a network operator, I don’t believe Apple is interested in building it’s own network.  The wireless business is too expensive on Capital and Operating Expenses to make it worthwhile.  With regard to the third option, I don’t believe Verizon Wireless or SprintNextel would offer the phone.  They have spent millions investing in their own product.  That’s roughly over 90 million consumers and 40% of the cellular market that Apple could not tap.  The MVNO play is a possibility.  I would rate that the second best option for Apple.

Bring the noise!

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Our goal is to serve up the latest dish in mobile voice and video.

Our hope is that the MobileDiner will be a community for people who love and want to discuss everything mobile. A place where industry folks can touch and taste what consumers demand.  Wimax, 3G, WiFi, is all good in a world where consumers want info anytime, anywhere and on any device.

Suggestions for the menu are encouraged and cellphones are Not prohibited in this joint.

Get your eat on!

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