For years, cable companies have been notoriously slow to embrace new technologies, relying instead on the cash cow of premium, paid TV subscriptions to keep business afloat. Now that consumers have a near-infinite number of entertainment choices, online and mobile video included, many pay TV providers have been forced to get more strategic about investments in delivering web-based video to devices beyond the television set.

In particular, cable, satellite and IPTV providers are coming to market with a series of new mobile applications meant to augment existing paid TV subscriptions and give subscribers access to content even when they’re not at home. These applications — which could finally make videos available wherever and whenever users want to watch them — could help the TV Everywhere concept finally live up to its name.

So-called TV Everywhere services were initially launched to appeal to consumers’ interest in being able to access on-demand video content even when they weren’t at home or in front of a TV. These services were introduced as a value-added feature to entice users to keep their cable subscriptions, despite the growing amount of free or ad-supported content available online. Now those same cable operators are pushing these services beyond user PCs and onto the iPad and other mobile devices with new applications.

Not all apps are created equal; different companies have different plans for the capabilities that will be built into those applications. Most, like Comcast, plan to integrate some programming guide and DVR-scheduling capabilities into their apps. Others, meanwhile, are considering adding everything from on-demand mobile video access to live linear TV on tablet devices.

So without further ado, here’s a look at the mobile app plans of different service providers:

Comcast

In May, Comcast was the first major cable provider to announce it was building an iPad app, just a few short weeks after the Apple tablet became available to consumers, and it pretty much set the stage for other apps to come. Comcast’s big idea was to pair the iPad with its set-top boxes, enabling a two-way connection between the devices.

Pros: Comcast was first to announce its plans for the app, which could therefore be available sooner than those from other cable providers. It will also have some social features that will allow users to chat with each other and see what their friends are watching. Because the iPad has a virtual keyboard, Comcast customers will be able to more easily search and discover the content they want to find, particularly as the cable provider ramps up the number of VOD titles available.

Cons: Using an iPad as a remote control isn’t very interesting. In fact, that feature is just the starting point for many of the other providers’ planned apps. Without access to any actual video content through the app, it falls woefully short of true innovation, a definite disadvantage when compared to competitors’ apps.

Time Warner Cable

Earlier this month, Time Warner Cable issued a series of YouTube videos showing off its upcoming iPad app. Like Comcast, Time Warner Cable plans to allow customers to access their interactive programming guide via the iPad — along with remote control and DVR scheduling capabilities — and connecting it with the user’s set-top box. Time Warner also plans to make its TV Everywhere streaming content available on the tablet, enabling subscribers to view on-demand content from channels they’ve subscribed to.

Pros: Time Warner Cable’s planned iPad app takes Comcast’s programming guide and DVR functionality one step further by adding authenticated streaming video through the device, effectively offering more than just a sophisticated remote control.

Cons: The iPad app from Time Warner Cable looks sharp, but there’s no indication of when it might be available or which content partners have signed up to make their shows available on the app. Since the company’s TV Everywhere service is still in beta, it’s not clear how soon before it — and the app — becomes available more widely to users.

Cablevision

During the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge told analysts the cable provider is also working on an iPad app. That app is designed to let users access all of the services that are available through the typical set-top box, including live broadcast television, video-on-demand and expanded services. In addition, the planned app will have integrated programming guide and DVR capabilities. While other apps have less advanced capabilities but will allow users to access online content anywhere, the Cablevision app reportedly will only be available for in-home viewing.

Pros: Live broadcast TV and VOD services — which essentially make the same capabilities one gets through the TV available on the iPad — is a huge step up from many of the other planned apps. Cablevision is also looking to go beyond the iPad to make the same capabilities available on other mobile and tablet devices.

Cons: While Cablevision has spoken publicly about its iPad plans, it hasn’t yet given a preview of what the app will look like or when it might be available. Also, limiting its use to inside Cablevision households also limits the actual usefulness of the app as a tool for mobile.

Verizon

Verizon became the latest service provider to announce plans for making its content available through the iPad, with an app that would give its subscribers the ability to watch live linear TV on the tablet, as long as they were viewing that content from within their own homes. While there’s currently no real date for when the app will be made available, Verizon says the technology to enable viewers to stream live TV in their homes is done; it’s just a matter of getting content owners on board for the service. In addition to live video, Verizon is also planning mobile apps that will allow users to access programming guide, DVR and VOD content, with plans for release later this year.

Pros: Live linear TV is the killer app for mobile devices.

Cons: Only being able to access those streams in the home limits the app’s usefulness, which could keep the app from gaining traction.

Dish Network

Dish Network is reportedly working on an iPad app that will work with its upcoming DishOnline.com online video site. DishOnline.com will give users the ability to access their interactive programming guide, full DVR scheduling and VOD access. Additionally, users can access video from free, ad-supported content providers and authenticated on-demand content from premium content providers. For customers with Slingboxes or SlingLoaded DVRs, the DishOnline site will allow them to stream live and recorded video from their set-top boxes. All of this functionality is expected to be built into the Dish iPad app.

Pros: The rumored Dish iPad app has the potential to be the most fully featured app from a pay TV provider once it becomes available, especially for users who have SlingLoaded DVRs. Also, Dish reportedly plans to make similar functionality available through a series of apps for other devices, such as iPhone, Android and BlackBerry mobile phones.

Cons: The app sounds great, but no one has seen it yet. Reserving judgment until it hits the market.

Related Research: The Ultimate Guide to TV Everywhere