Verizon
Wireless has introduced a tool that lets subscribers more easily port photos, videos and music between mobile devices and PCs. The new V Cast Media Manager allows users to transfer user-generated
content from phones to computers using only a USB cable rather than the more involved process of having to remove a device's SD memory card to do so.
Bypassing that in-between step not only
affords greater convenience but gets around the memory limitations of an SD card. And if a customer upgrades or changes phones, they can transfer their content -- as well as unprotected music from
their PCs -- to new handsets.
"This tool is the first step in giving our customers the resources they need to make the most of the multimedia content they create, acquire or store using their
wireless devices," said Kyle Malady, vice president, product development at Verizon Wireless, in a statement. The move also underscores wider efforts that Verizon is undertaking to encourage the
extension of mobile media from the Web to mobile devices.
Last month, Verizon partnered with iSkoot to launch an application promising all-in-one access to popular social properties including
Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The app lets subscribers view and manage social networking accounts through live feeds and real-time notifications.
The Media Manager is powered by Smith Micro
Software Inc. and is designed for popular Verizon phones including LG enV Touch and Samsung Alias.