AT&T and Verizon just launched the ability for subscribers to remotely program their DVR programming by cell phone.

AT&T Inc. subscribers can accomplish this via AT&T's Homezone, a video-on-demand service that AT&T offers with satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications.Starting next week Verizon Wireless and Vodafone Group Plc also will offer its customers to use their phones to program TiVo Inc. digital video recorders remotely.

The idea, promised for months, is to better integrate wired and wireless services to encourage customer loyalty amid increased competition from cable providers, which have added telephony to their Web and television services,

Sprint Nextel Corp. is also planning a similar offer later in the year through its venture with cable providers such as Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc. Time will tell if this service will take off.

Consumers can already remotely program digital video recorders from companies such as TiVo by using a desktop computer with an Internet connection, at no extra charge.