Hands-on with PrimeTime2Go for BlackBerry

Although music subscription services never really took off with consumers, I can see a lot of people using PrimeTime2Go for watching their favorite shows on their BlackBerrys. Available in early May, this service will cost a reasonable $7.99 per month, about half the cost of live mobile TV services from AT&T and Verizon Wireless that use the MediaFLO network. QuickPlay Meda’s service doesn’t use broadcast technology; it delivers shows over Wi-Fi to devices like the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Bold, which means you can watch when you’re offline. And unlike iTunes, you don’t have to pay a fee for every show you watch. (I asked about the delivery of shows via 3G, but it looks like that won’t be in the cards.) During my hands-on time with a demo unit at CTIA, I liked how easy the interface was to use. You simply click on the network logo, say NBC, CBS, or MTV Networks, and then find the show you’re looking for. Video playback was smooth and clear on the BlackBerry Bold when I watched a bit of The Office and of an episode of The Colbert Report. I also like that you can download programs in the background while you do other things, like check your e-mail.  The company says there will be a short delay window between a program’s original air date and when you can download it, about 2 to 3 days.  I also like that you can easily pick up from where you left off if you have to exit the application. Although it would be nice to see Fox and ABC/Disney come on board, PrimeTime2Go looks like it will be a hot seller when it hips the BlackBerry App World storefront.