CNET News.com informs us that Verizon is launching a new marketing campaign to gain momentum and name recognition for its new Verizon FiOS service.

Verizon's FiOS service utilizes their new fiber-optic network termed as fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP). According to the article, around 250 communities up and down the East Coast and in Texas now offer the FiOS service.

The new marketing campaign will be focused on the areas that are currently being offered FiOS service. The methods they will use include billboards, decorated hummers, and temporary storefronts, or "FiOS lounges," where consumers can experience and test drive the capabilities that Verizon FiOS offers.

Despite the new marketing campaign, analysts believe Verizon has a more difficult road than expected ahead of them. "Building awareness of the concept and of the brand name, which isn't that compelling to begin with, will be the biggest challenge for Verizon," said Jim Penhune, an analyst at market researcher Strategy Analytics. "Because they are rolling out the service one town at a time, they must be very specific in the marketing. This was always somewhat of an issue for the cable companies in marketing their own services."

On the other hand, Verizon is just beginning its marketing campaign so any predictions thus far are simply that. Knowing that they have already invested billions in the infrastructure, we highly doubt they will be launching a light-hearted marketing campaign.

One of the biggest factors we envision for their success is their ability to advertise FiOS's capacity to offer IPTV and the additional features it offers. FiOS as simply a faster Internet service will be drooled over by techies, but by itself will fail to hit the mainstream without the IPTV and ideally VOIP additions.

Check out the entire article and the FiOS lounge photos.