• Verizon deploys more interactive features in Pittsburgh
By Mike Robuck

The next wave of Verizon’s interactive TV upgrades has landed in the Pittsburgh area.

New updates to FiOS TV's Interactive Media Guide (IMG) included increased video-on-demand personalization, purchasing power via remote control for ESPN programming, gaming widgets and new navigational shortcuts.

Verizon, which competes with Comcast in the Pittsburgh area, has previously added the new iTV features in Texas, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York and will add other FiOS TV markets over the next few months.

• Spirent tests handhelds for Verizon LTE
By Brian Santo

Verizon Wireless will use test equipment from Spirent Communications to certify devices that will operate on the company’s 4G Long Term Evolution network. Spirent solutions include hardware, test simulators, system simulators and software for test automation.

The spectrum Verizon bought comes with the provision that the network that uses it be open to anyone’s devices. Anyone who wants a device to work on the Verizon network has to make sure it will, in fact, work on the Verizon network, and that’s what makes it important to have available a set of tools like Spirent’s.

Verizon said any organization considering offering devices on the upcoming Verizon Wireless LTE network can use these tools in preparation for device certification by independent labs. Verizon Wireless said it expects to announce additional testing solutions.