Verizon Announces 'Verizon Apps,' Chomp Keyword Search

Verizon is killing off V Cast Apps, its media delivery network of games, music, movies and apps, and its replacement, Verizon Apps, is going to have a slick new keyword search for app discovery.

At the Verizon Developer Community Conference in Las Vegas Tuesday, Verizon announced that, starting this fall, V Cast Apps will be replaced by Verizon Apps and that the new storefront will come with an app search powered by Chomp, a startup that has created a search engine for apps that allows users to find apps based on what they do, rather than what they are called.

So, for example, if you search for "kids' games" in Verizon Apps, it will search for games meant for kids, whereas if you search for "kids' games" in iTunes, it searches for apps with the words "kids' games" in their title and description. (You can try out the new keyword search before it hits Verizon RIM and Android phones at chomp.com); the Verizon Apps storefront will not be featured on Verizon iPhones).

Though the announcement and press release focused on Chomp keyword search, there were also some details about Verizon Apps and the company's mobile strategy going forward. Verizon will be totally eliminating all references to "V Cast" and all "V Cast" brands will be replaced with "Verizon" brands to capitalize on the company's brand recognition. So, pretty soon there will be a Verizon Apps, a Verizon Media Manager and so on.

"Verizon is a pretty strong brand," a Verizon spokesperson told HuffPost, "and probably has a little more traction in the marketplace than we could have gotten in the with V Cast."

Verizon is the only major carrier in the United States to have its own app store, though the spokesperson told The Huffington Post that this announcement and the emphasis Verizon is placing on its new keyword search is not meant as a challenge to either the Android Market or the BlackBerry App World. They are simply meant to co-exist and give users more options for app discovery -- and payment. Because Verizon apps are "carrier-billed," charges for apps go onto your cellphone bill, which the Verizon spokesperson said was more convenient, faster and more secure.

Verizon has not given an exact date for the launch of Chomp keyword search and Verizon Apps, but it says to expect them both beginning this fall.

Comments

[Gurinder Dhillon]

08:39 AM on 09/14/2011

Verizon = Overrated

[rickpark1]

03:07 AM on 09/14/2011

I think I know why Verizon's having so much trouble of late: They have a secret new c.e.o thats calling all the shots..(.has anyone heard from Bob Nardelli lately?) any way Its used to be a good company.

[obrudder]

10:28 PM on 09/13/2011

They provide decent reliable service, that's what they have always done the best. They provide the internet and they provide the wireless and they do that well. Their ego however is quite large and they care always trying to provide services that other do much better. They clutter up your phones and your computer with useless icons and apps that are unwanted. (Look how many here said they had no idea of what vcast is?)

Practically nothing moves thru the air or the wires without their involvement and profit. Why compete with those who already use your service and provide the same app only better. Verizon gets involved but doesn't have the talent or focus to be a player in the content. Just be a great carrier and stop the nonsense.

By the way Vz stop nickel and dimeing me.

[Dosadi]

09:37 PM on 09/13/2011

I wonder how much Verizon will charge BP to have their site go straight to the top of the list. Next oil spill we will find out.

[ScottV]

04:58 PM on 09/13/2011

Hmmm so that is what that icon is for on my blackberry...

[jabailo]

03:48 PM on 09/13/2011

I've had a stupid V-cast app on my virgin mobile phone ever since my phone was a big grey lozenge shaped thing....

What is it? I never knew...

[General Public]

03:27 PM on 09/13/2011

Wow, app-lications I can execute on my cell-ular tele-phone simply by pressing on its touch-screen with my finger, and a system to down-load them from the Internets in exchange for giving them my credit card number! What a novel idea! What EVER shall the geniuses of Verizon think of NEXT? The ability to make tele-phone calls with one of their devices, if I am close enough to one of their cell-ular tele-phone towers and pay my tele-phone bills on time? Brilliant! What an inno-vative corp-oration Verizon is!

[SouthernJewel]

05:55 PM on 09/13/2011

@General Public
HA!
Love the sarcasm.

[fla kracker]

11:27 AM on 09/14/2011

F&F loved the snark and am going on faith that your bio is you

[Thomas River]

12:34 PM on 09/13/2011

Let me guess. The replacement cost more?

[oneyippie]

12:10 PM on 09/13/2011

Oh wow, must take a genius to include another text field in the search criteria...

[Mister Grumpy]

12:02 PM on 09/13/2011

Garbage by any other name is still garbage...........

[Flight]

11:55 AM on 09/13/2011

So Verizon "is going to have a slick new keyword search for app discovery" as a major story for the company when its workers are STILL without a new contract and continue to add value to the company. Looks like its priorities are out of order...among other things.

[filo]

11:46 AM on 09/13/2011

Settle the contract Verizon.

[hungrypilot]

11:41 AM on 09/13/2011

Does Verizon still charge $.99 for every free Android app? I had heard that at one point...

[Mister Grumpy]

12:04 PM on 09/13/2011

Nope......... not when using the Google Marketplace..........

But V Cast anything is garbage...........