So I get what FiOS is for Internet but...

How exactly can FiOS make my cable and phone more bad ass. I guess I associate FiOS with "fast" but am not sure what else it does.

Hi Kerouacian!
That is a very good question; one that I'm sure many people have.

Yes, FiOS IS "faster" than your traditional cable, but the speed of the service is only one of the benefits.

Verizon FIOS is a passive optical network. Voice, video, and data travel over three wavelengths in the infrared spectrum.

One of the three wavelength bands is devoted to carrying television channels that are compatible with Cable television products. The other two wavelengths are devoted to all other data, one for outbound and the other for inbound data. This includes IPTV video, telephone and internet data.

FiOS delivers Video on Demand, pay per view, and TV guide service via the IPTV, which allows you to receive more content. In traditional cable using broadcast video technology, all the content constantly flows downstream to each customer, and the customer switches the content at the set-top box. The customer can select from as many choices as the telecomms, cable or satellite company can stuff into the “pipe” flowing into the home. A switched IP network works differently. Content remains in the network, and only the content you select is sent into your home. That frees up bandwidth, and your choice is less restricted by the size of the “pipe” into the home.

Basically, what it all means is that you have increased bandwidth for downloading and uploading data, as well as a larger selection of standard and high definition television. This increased bandwidth means that you can add more networked devices within your home without worrying about delay in the network. Be sure to check out the My Home 2.0 episodes for ways you can "2.0" your home!
:D

Excellent explanation, Lloyd. I've found the "pipe" analogy to be really helpful in wrapping my head around how it all works, too.

Another thing I've learned in my research about FiOS is that because the signal is transmitted via light waves through glass, rather than radio waves through copper cable, it's immune to electromagnetic interference from nearby cables, and a lot less susceptible to bad weather.

And because of the much larger bandwidth of fiber, they don't have to compress the image as much as cable, so you get little to none of those annoying squares that "freeze up" on your TV screen (called "compression artifacts.")

What….are you kidding me?!!! The benefits of FiOS go way beyond the speed. For your phone, No longer does your dial tone line ride on thousands of feet of copper cable before it even gets into your neighborhood. You’ll have crystal clear voice service. And for your television, same deal! Your RF now generates right on the side of your house as well. Fiber optic transmission makes everything come through clear. No other residential service medium being installed or existing has the bandwidth ability of a fiber cable. You will now get the best signal available. You want HD………you got it!!!...........Lloyd, great explanation!!