Verizon Wireless has announced that all go90-registered post-paid customers can now watch go90 video content anytime on Verizon's LTE network, without paying for data time. The move has raised the ire of market watchers who accuse the company of violating net neutrality principles and creating an unequal playing field, Recode reported.
Go90 is Verizon’s all-in-one mobile entertainment app for smartphone and tablet that provides access to over 21,000 titles and more than 50 exclusive original series in the US, as well as live music and live sports. Customers can update to the latest version of the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Verizon’s argument for the legality of the service is that go90 is open to other content providers via its sponsored data programme, FreeBee Data 360, which lets content providers pay for customers’ data costs. A Verizon spokesperson told Re/code that “FreeBee Data 360 is an open, non-exclusive service available to other content providers on a non-discriminatory basis. “Any interested content provider can use FreeBee Data 360 to expand their audiences by giving consumers the opportunity to enjoy their content without incurring data charges,” the spokesperson said.
With AT&T also looking to launch a mobile video service involving sponsored data, industry watchers have noted that Verizon's move will be a test bed to see how the FCC responds.
