Verizon Wireless adds social apps to video, ringback tones

SAN FRANCISCO — Verizon Wireless stoked the white-hot social-networking fire, launching three offerings that allow subscribers to share content and stay in contact with their friends.
The carrier yesterday unveiled SocialLife, a $1.50-a-month application that connects users to a host of sites including MySpace, FaithBase, Photobucket, Rabble and MTV Tr3s. The app is powered by Intercasting Corp., the parent company of Rabble, and enables users to view messages, approve or deny friend requests, posts comments or status updates and change their profiles on the go. And a camera-phone feature allows users to upload pictures from their handsets with a single click.
“We’re trying to bring new social networks to the application without having customers go look and find it,” said Jennifer Byrne, Verizon Wireless’ director of digital media. “It’s live on 16 devices and it will become available on many, many more.”
The carrier combined that news with the rollout of m.vcast.com, a channel of streaming video of content culled from Vcast Video that can be shared via Twitter and other sites. The offering is powered by Buzzwire, a Denver-based mobile video startup, and is available on Web-enabled phones.
Finally, the operator introduced Ringback Buddies, an offering that allows Facebook users to browse, buy and manage their ringback tones on the popular site. Users can view friends’ favorites and establish a wish list of ringbacks, and can purchase and assign ringbacks based on their friends’ tastes. “Being part of a social Web experience is an increasingly popular way to exchange information about music in all its forms, including mobile music,” Byrne said.