Verizon recently announced it has joined the MoCA (Multimedia over COAX Alliance), becoming the first telecom to do so. The alliance is researching ways to connect applications such as televisions, computers, and digital video recorders via coaxial wiring. The alliance also includes Cisco, the Japanese companies Toshiba and Matsushita, and others, such as Radio Shack, cable operator Cox, and satellite TV provider EchoStar Communications.