Comcast Mobile iPhone app video walkthrough
We've been playing with it for a couple days now, and we're thinking the Digital Voice integration is the killer feature in this version -- especially if you're like us and you're paying for a landline that you never use as part of a package. Being able to access voicemail and -- crucially -- being able to turn call forwarding on and off instantly make having a landline sort of useful. We're not saying we'd die without it, but it's definitely kind of nice -- and if Comcast is listening, it'd be even nicer if the next version integrated a VOIP client so you could actually use that landline on the go.
Speaking of features we want in the next version, the program guide and On Demand trailers are nice, but we're dying for some actual integration here -- Comcast says remote DVR scheduling is coming, but we'd love to things get crazy, like, say, being able to purchase and view On Demand content. It's just the first version, so we won't dock too many points for the skeletal feature set here, but the possibilities are endless -- we'd like to see them explored.
Oh, and there's also email, and although we're probably never going to use our Comcast email address, at least this app has us checking it, which is something we've never done before.
Overall, Comcast Mobile is a solid first effort that basically just makes Digital Voice somewhat more valuable. A little bit of spit and polish wouldn't hurt, and we'd love to see some deeper integration with Comcast's services, but hey -- it's free, right?
[Warning: iTunes store read link]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rick T. @ Jul 15th 2009 8:29PM
This would be a great little app if it let you set up a recording for the DVR.
cypherx @ Jul 15th 2009 8:58PM
I agree Rick!
Once they let me program my DVR from this thing, we'll be golden!
mike @ Jul 15th 2009 9:06PM
Come on Verizon, your the only provider who doesn't have a iPhone app. (Dish don't count)
Bryan Thumme @ Jul 15th 2009 9:40PM
Um...Charter doesn't do crap for their customers. Not to mention, I'm not aware of any iPhone app from them.
MRCUR @ Jul 15th 2009 11:07PM
Ok, of the "big" providers Verizon is the only one without an app, although I personally would also count Dish.
mj @ Jul 16th 2009 3:53PM
Charter has 3x more subs than Verizon. Dish has more than 5x the subs as Verizon is national and does more marketing, so your point is still taken.
Marshall @ Jul 15th 2009 9:25PM
Does it let you know how much bandwidth you've used so you don't go over your cap?
MRCUR @ Jul 15th 2009 11:08PM
Comcast has yet to roll out their usage tracker - hopefully once it's out though they add it to the app.
btn @ Jul 16th 2009 3:40AM
It would be nice if it also had a section for service status (e.g. if Comcast Internet is down). OTOH, their system status page always says they're up. I suppose an Internet connection is technically available when their DNS servers are down, which are the types of outages I encounter the most with Comcast Internet. It's too bad they frown upon using OpenDNS.
g0 @ Jul 15th 2009 9:40PM
boring...
thought they were rolling out streaming video... i dont need any of this crap...
i have Google Voice!
Bob @ Jul 16th 2009 12:39AM
Look out, every few months they will increase the price of the app by a few dollars.
Jason @ Jul 16th 2009 1:12AM
Comcast's CDV is not a true VOIP service. It uses the technology, but operates on a closed circuit within their cable network. Thus, it never actually reaches the internet, removing the I in VOIP. It seems like it would be unprofitable for them to reconfigure this just for an iPhone app.
Will Collins @ Jul 16th 2009 10:30AM
I think you mean it is not SIP. It is definitely VOIP. The fact that it travels over a proprietary network does not mean that it does not use IP networking. Remember Internet actually means between networks. What you meant was the Public Internet which is more appropriately called the World Wide Web.
VOIP is a blanket term for a few Voice over data network standards. Most "phone" lines are actually VOIP these days (including long distance) and terminate at the PSTN at the very last leg of the call.
There is absolutely no reason Comcast DV could not provide a SIP or H.323 client into their network. Even Skype is on the verge of allowing this and their network is not SIP based.
Information Central @ Jul 16th 2009 6:26AM
"Comcast says remote DVR scheduling is coming"
Coming? WTF? Why would you even release this app without that?
The Greek @ Jul 16th 2009 11:10AM
Without DVR functions it's about as useful as a poopie flavored lollipop
Mike @ Jul 16th 2009 10:21PM
I was happy to hear about this app and it initially works very good, and has promise. One thing I've noticed is that now my email on the web is having problem syncing up right. Going to my email and the comcast homepage it shows I have 2 new messages, but I don't. The app is showing none, I noticed them on my iPod, read them and deleted them. They aren't in my inbox but in the trash folder online. I'm sure it's a bug that will be worked out, but just wanted to put this out there for those of us who do check their Comcast email regularly.