QuickPlay Media has just officially launched PrimeTime2Go (see below), its mobile television service for select BlackBerrys for the United States. I haven’t tried it, but I will, despite some restrictions I don’t like.
As I previously wrote, PrimeTime2Go works, so far, with the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and Curve 8900 [courtesy of Research in Motion (RIM), I have both]. Programs are downloaded, not streamed, over Wi-Fi to a microSD card. You can use cellular to browse the selection of programs, but not download them.
QuickPlay recommends a microSD card with a minimum of 512MB, which it says will store about 2.5 hours. That’s two, one-hour shows and one, half-hour show, show (duh!), which isn’t much. I have cards with up to 8GB, so I don’t have to worry too much….if I delete all the photos, music and podcasts!
By the way, QuickPlay says it only allows Wi-Fi downloads “to ensure you do not incur large data charges from your operator.” Well, that might be somewhat true, and it certainly is much faster via Wi-Fi than pokey EDGE or even AT&T’s 3G (no 3G Bold or 8900 for T-Mobile).
However, it’s also true that cellular operators don’t want users to “strain” their networks with large downloads. So QuickPlay and RIM want to “play nice” with the operators.
Crummy expiration deadlines
Now that PrimeTime2Go is live, there are more details about the service. In my previous article, I had some questions, and some have been answered.
For example, QuickPlay says the expiration period for programs is, typically, two or three weeks. However, that time could be different depending on the program. QuickPlay says, “In some cases, episodes may be removed from your SD Card due to a 28 hour availability.” What?!
Frankly, if I’m paying for the service, I would not be pleased if the show I downloaded couldn’t be played, but that, apparently, is indeed the case — especially if it’s available for 28 hours!
PayPal or nothing
The mobile TV service costs $7.99 per month. It’s available only by downloading the software (including the proprietary video player) from RIM’s BlackBerry App World. Payment is only through PayPal. which is the only way to pay for App World software.
I’d much prefer PrimeTime2Go — and other BlackBerry apps — would be available through the developer’s Web site. Also, although I have a PayPal account, I’ve used it only once because I don’t know if I trust PayPal’s security; perhaps I’m too cautious.
To cancel the PrimeTime2Go subscription, you must log onto your PayPal account and cancel the service from PayPal’s “transactions” section. PrimeTime2Go will continue to work for the remainder of the month for which you’ve previously been billed.
Types of programs
As I’m sure you expect, watching videos doesn’t help your battery life! QuickPlay says watching a half hour show will decrease battery life by about ten percent.
PrimeTime2Go offers, as of today, 48 programs from 17 networks. There are a variety of categories, including drama, comedy, news, children and nature.
I can see where this might be useful for some people who are on the road, working long hours, and want to watch, for example, ABC “World News,” “ABC Nightline” or other programs late at night or early in the morning. You can configure the PrimeTime2Go app to download programs automatically.
I’ll have to check it out. Too bad there’s not even a minimum free trial period for, say, one to three days.
Update (5/6/09): Very early this morning I tried to download the PrimeTime2Go client on my Bold over T-Mobile (with Wi-Fi enabled), but it wasn’t in the BlackBerry App World online store. It wasn’t in the “Music & Video” section — where the PrimeTime2Go Web site said it would be — and I couldn’t find “PrimeTime2Go” by using the App World’s search function. So, my first try was a fail.
Yes, I have the latest version of App World.
That's great,Now its easy to find music that we wanted,especially the news.
-Ava
Posted by: Cellular Mobile Philippine Phone Sun | May 07, 2009 at 10:58 PM