Verizon lets FiOS subs access voicemail on TV

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) FiOS TV subscribers with its upgraded version of its Interactive Media Guide can now access voice mail from their digital phone service through the TV with a few clicks of a remote control.

While Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and several other cable MSOs allow customers that order both digital cable and phone service to view caller ID displays on their TVs, no cable MSO allows subscribers to manage their voice mail accounts through their interactive program guides.

Verizon added a tab for its FiOS Digital Voice service to the menu of its interactive program guide. Subscribers that click the tab are prompted to enter a four-digit parental control access code before they can view call logs and listen to voice mails.

While viewers are navigating the Digital Voice app--which is displayed on the right side of the screen--video from the TV channel they are watching is reduced to half of the screen, and audio from the channel is muted while voice mails play.

Verizon is even integrating advertising into the Digital Voice app. On Friday, subscribers saw a banner ad for its HSN Shop by Remote channel when accessing voice mails.

For more:
- Zatz Not Funny has this story

Related articles:
FiOS courts Android users with MY FiOS app
Verizon's FiOS TV growth slows in Q3