AT&T, Verizon working on remotely controlling DVRs

Chicago (IL) - Verizon and AT&T are concurrently working on new services that will allow users to control TV-connected DVRs from their cell phones. Verizon is teaming up with Tivo while Cingular will connect to AT&T’s own DVR box.

Verizon, which has an ever increasing slate of enhanced mobile features, is working with Tivo to create a graphical user interface (GUI) for its phones so that users can easily program and edit recordings on their Tivo box.

Mobile phone users can already remotely access their Tivo via a mobile Internet browser connected to Tivo.com, and the actual programs can be viewed with Sling Media’s Slingplayer Mobile application. So the new service aims mainly to be more user-friendly, and will be free to existing V Cast subscribers.

Cingular, meanwhile, is just beginning to roll out its own similar kind of service. However, the applicable audience is much smaller than Verizon’s initiative because Cingular’s service only connects to Homezone, AT&T’s proprietary DVR. AT&T acquired Cingular in 2004.