Verizon has chosen southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware to launch FiOS Quantum TV, which the company says should be available to viewers in Chester County by early next week.

If you want more control and viewing choices, FiOS Quantum TV might be the home viewing service for you. Viewers will be able to record up to 12 shows at once, pause and rewind live TV on any TV in the home, and store up to 200 hours of HD programs. Monthly prices range from $22 for enhanced to $32 for premium service.

“With FiOS Quantum TV, we’ve taken a giant leap over our competitors by redefining the total TV-viewing experience for our customers, allowing them to enjoy their entertainment in the ways they want,” said Tim Smith, Verizon region president for consumer and mass business operations for Pennsylvania/Delaware. “FiOS Quantum TV will make you look at TV in a whole new way.”

The new service was launched recently in North Texas, Harrisburg and Tampa, and will roll out in phases over the next few months in other markets where FiOS TV is offered. Verizon launched FiOS TV in the area in 2006, and it’s now in nearly 1.5 million households and business in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

In addition to the Premium Service tier, FiOS Quantum TV features Enhanced Service, allowing customers to record up to six shows simultaneously and store up to 100 hours of HD programming with one terabyte of storage space.

“We’re delivering the best, most satisfying TV experience to customers, with features and functionality they want such as more choice, storage and control, said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon’s consumer and mass business unit.

Currently, more than one-third of all TV viewed is recorded content, and adoption of DVR capabilities has grown roughly 60 percent over the past five years. Simultaneous-recording conflicts have also grown as a major source of frustration among viewers of all ages.

FiOS Quantum TV customers will use a next-generation set-top box known as a Video Media Server, which is smaller than the existing set-top box and acts as the brains of the FiOS Quantum TV setup. Each Media Server, connected to one TV, serves as the hub for up to five TVs in a home. Each of four additional TVs can be connected to a Media Client, a compact companion device that communicates with the Media Server. The Premium Service, using two Video Media Servers, can connect up to 10 TVs and is ideal for the viewing needs of a household with six or more TVs.

While many existing customers’ FiOS broadband home routers are compatible with FiOS Quantum TV, certain routers must be replaced. If needed, the required FiOS broadband home router will be supplied at no additional charge to existing FiOS TV customers who are using a Verizon-provided router and who upgrade to FiOS Quantum TV service. The equipment will be rented.

Current FiOS TV customers who want to upgrade to FiOS Quantum TV and self-install the new equipment will pay a $24.99 upgrade fee, plus tax. While the upgrading is quick and easy, existing and new FiOS TV customers can elect to have a Verizon technician install the service.

Links: http://www.verizon.com