AT&T finally goes Android, confirms Dell, HTC and Motorola on board
By Nilay Patel 
posted January 6th 2010 1:08PM
posted January 6th 2010 1:08PM
AT&T Launches Major Initiative to Bring 'Apps to All'
Company Also Plans to Launch Five Android-Based Devices in First Half of 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6, 2010
newsrelease
AT&T today announced plans to launch five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. The company also announced a major initiative to expand the universe of mobile applications beyond smartphones to more mobile phones – and spur future app development for emerging consumer electronics devices, its U-verse TV platform, and enterprise and small business workplaces.
At the 4th annual AT&T Developer Summit in Las Vegas, executives outlined details including:
* New devices that will give customers the most robust choices of major operating systems (OS), including Android™, in the U.S.
* A goal to offer all major smartphone OS app stores
* An agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development for mid-range Quick Messaging Devices using BREW Mobile Platform. These devices are used by millions of customers who historically have not had the same convenient access as smartphone customers to the market's hottest apps
* A new AT&T SDK (software developer kit) to help developers immediately begin to develop apps for these devices
* A significantly enhanced developer program and new relationships with global carriers that are intended to make it easier for developers to distribute apps in markets outside the U.S.
* Future initiatives to enable developers to create more apps for AT&T's U-verse TV, emerging consumer electronics devices, and businesses
* A new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab and two new Innovation Centers, which will help developers and spur apps development
"Applications help consumers realize the full value and benefits of mobile broadband networks, services and devices," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Today some AT&T customers can take advantage of more than 100,000 apps – but only if they have the right handset. Our goal is to bring more apps to millions more of our customers who want convenient access to the market's hottest apps. At the same time, in the future, we plan to go well beyond mobile devices to spur apps development."
In addition to ultimately giving more customers more choices of applications, the long-term strategic initiatives announced today will make it easier for developers to cost effectively create applications and reach broader audiences, and help AT&T drive data revenues.
Extend Smartphone Leadership
AT&T will further its leadership in smartphones with the planned launch of five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. Those devices, which are scheduled to be available during the first half of 2010, include:
* A Motorola smartphone, powered by MOTOBLUR, with a unique form factor and an AT&T exclusive
* Dell's first smartphone, based on the Android platform and an AT&T exclusive
* A HTC smartphone, based on the Android platform, and an AT&T exclusive
AT&T customers with these devices will benefit not only from the nation's fastest 3G network but also the ability to simultaneously talk on the phone while surfing the Web or reading email. Customers can sign up for email notifications as more details are available at www.att.com/android.
In addition, AT&T announced its goal to lead the industry in application choices for smartphone customers by offering all major app stores. It will preload the corresponding store for each device -- giving customers convenient access to thousands of apps optimized for their smartphone. Today, AT&T added to existing agreements with Nokia for Ovi store and Microsoft for Windows Marketplace by announcing an agreement for Android Market. It expects to announce more app store agreements in the near future and will offer carrier billing as an easy and convenient payment option for as many stores as possible.
'Apps for All' by Standardizing Apps Development with Brew Mobile Platform
De la Vega also announced a significant new agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development by adopting BREW Mobile Platform. With this agreement, AT&T intends to make BREW Mobile Platform its primary operating system platform for Quick Messaging Devices, one of the company's fastest growing categories of devices.
AT&T customers with these devices historically haven't had the same convenient access as AT&T smartphone customers to thousands of compelling, new applications. Since AT&T launched its pioneering line-up of Quick Messaging Devices in fall 2008, about 30 percent of the company's postpaid customers who are new or upgrading have purchased this type of device. AT&T is committed to spurring innovation and apps development for the millions of customers in this category.
Quick Messaging Devices are integrated devices that are value priced and texting centric; they have full QWERTY keyboards, either physical or virtual, and, since this past fall, full Web browsing capabilities. Customers with these devices are more likely to demand apps, subscribe to messaging and data plans, and are a large potential market for application developers, according to AT&T research.
AT&T Chief Marketing Officer David Christopher announced plans to begin rolling out Quick Messaging Devices with BREW Mobile Platform in the second half of the year, so that by year end 2011, about 90 percent of AT&T's devices in this segment are planned to be based on BREW Mobile Platform. AT&T announced that Samsung will be its first device maker to launch a Quick Messaging Device featuring BREW Mobile Platform. HTC, LG and Pantech also are building devices featuring BREW Mobile Platform for planned availability in late 2010 or early 2011.
"Today, developers must essentially rebuild apps for different handsets and operating systems, increasing their costs, slowing the pace of innovation and stalling the delivery of mobile apps to customers," Christopher said. "We want to tear down the barriers and make it much easier for developers to reach our customers – and for our customers to access apps. Moving to one platform for this fast growing segment of devices will help developers reach millions more customers who want easy access to the hottest mobile apps."
To help developers jumpstart apps development for AT&T's BREW Mobile Platform devices, Christopher announced a new AT&T SDK which features support for BREW Mobile Platform, continued support for Java and widgets, and includes tools to help developers tap into AT&T network capabilities as they design and code their applications. The new AT&T SDK is available starting today at sdk.developer.att.com.
Taking the AT&T Developer Program to the Next Level
AT&T has a longstanding commitment to the developer community. It was among the first major carriers to offer a developer program and has been rated the top carrier development program for the past three years by Evans Data. Today, AT&T executives also announced plans, including some launch schedules, for a series of new or enhanced developer resources including:
Technical support for developers via live chat -- something no other carrier, operating system provider or handset maker offers today – and a tripling of overall tech support by mid-2010.
* Revenue share featuring a standardized 70/30 split for third-party developers in the AT&T App Center.
* AT&T Sandbox, a virtual network environment for developers to test and evaluate applications, which is planned to be available in 2Q 2010.
* AT&T Developer Dashboard, a tool that will let developers track the status of their app once submitted to AT&T, support digital signing of business agreements with AT&T, allow developers to set prices for their apps, and provide performance metrics and customer satisfaction feedback. The dashboard is available now for enterprise application developers and the certification of emerging devices. And for AT&T's consumer development community, the dashboard will also provide needed automation which is planned for the first quarter of 2010.
* New marketing and referral relationships announced today between AT&T and other global carriers using GSM, the de facto world standard for wireless technology. The companies intend to create streamlined processes that help developers make their applications available to their combined base of hundreds of millions of customers.
* AT&T Developer Council, an advisory group hosted by AT&T and made up of leading development and technology companies and other influencers, such as EA Games, Telenav and Bonfire Media.
AT&T also announced a trial program with WaveMarket to make network location information accessible through Veriplace, WaveMarket's cloud location aggregation platform currently in use by more than 1,000 developers. Veriplace allows SMS, Web, WAP and IVR developers to develop location-aware apps and services across device categories and participating carriers. The trial program will launch in the coming weeks.
AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan also said that a new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab will open in Atlanta in the second quarter to provide developer support for speech, location and messaging APIs (application programming interfaces). In addition, two new Innovation Centers, one in the East and one in the West, are planned for late 2010 to provide 3G and 4G RF (radio frequency) development support, testing and demos.
Company Also Plans to Launch Five Android-Based Devices in First Half of 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6, 2010
newsrelease
AT&T today announced plans to launch five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. The company also announced a major initiative to expand the universe of mobile applications beyond smartphones to more mobile phones – and spur future app development for emerging consumer electronics devices, its U-verse TV platform, and enterprise and small business workplaces.
At the 4th annual AT&T Developer Summit in Las Vegas, executives outlined details including:
* New devices that will give customers the most robust choices of major operating systems (OS), including Android™, in the U.S.
* A goal to offer all major smartphone OS app stores
* An agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development for mid-range Quick Messaging Devices using BREW Mobile Platform. These devices are used by millions of customers who historically have not had the same convenient access as smartphone customers to the market's hottest apps
* A new AT&T SDK (software developer kit) to help developers immediately begin to develop apps for these devices
* A significantly enhanced developer program and new relationships with global carriers that are intended to make it easier for developers to distribute apps in markets outside the U.S.
* Future initiatives to enable developers to create more apps for AT&T's U-verse TV, emerging consumer electronics devices, and businesses
* A new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab and two new Innovation Centers, which will help developers and spur apps development
"Applications help consumers realize the full value and benefits of mobile broadband networks, services and devices," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Today some AT&T customers can take advantage of more than 100,000 apps – but only if they have the right handset. Our goal is to bring more apps to millions more of our customers who want convenient access to the market's hottest apps. At the same time, in the future, we plan to go well beyond mobile devices to spur apps development."
In addition to ultimately giving more customers more choices of applications, the long-term strategic initiatives announced today will make it easier for developers to cost effectively create applications and reach broader audiences, and help AT&T drive data revenues.
Extend Smartphone Leadership
AT&T will further its leadership in smartphones with the planned launch of five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. Those devices, which are scheduled to be available during the first half of 2010, include:
* A Motorola smartphone, powered by MOTOBLUR, with a unique form factor and an AT&T exclusive
* Dell's first smartphone, based on the Android platform and an AT&T exclusive
* A HTC smartphone, based on the Android platform, and an AT&T exclusive
AT&T customers with these devices will benefit not only from the nation's fastest 3G network but also the ability to simultaneously talk on the phone while surfing the Web or reading email. Customers can sign up for email notifications as more details are available at www.att.com/android.
In addition, AT&T announced its goal to lead the industry in application choices for smartphone customers by offering all major app stores. It will preload the corresponding store for each device -- giving customers convenient access to thousands of apps optimized for their smartphone. Today, AT&T added to existing agreements with Nokia for Ovi store and Microsoft for Windows Marketplace by announcing an agreement for Android Market. It expects to announce more app store agreements in the near future and will offer carrier billing as an easy and convenient payment option for as many stores as possible.
'Apps for All' by Standardizing Apps Development with Brew Mobile Platform
De la Vega also announced a significant new agreement with Qualcomm to standardize apps development by adopting BREW Mobile Platform. With this agreement, AT&T intends to make BREW Mobile Platform its primary operating system platform for Quick Messaging Devices, one of the company's fastest growing categories of devices.
AT&T customers with these devices historically haven't had the same convenient access as AT&T smartphone customers to thousands of compelling, new applications. Since AT&T launched its pioneering line-up of Quick Messaging Devices in fall 2008, about 30 percent of the company's postpaid customers who are new or upgrading have purchased this type of device. AT&T is committed to spurring innovation and apps development for the millions of customers in this category.
Quick Messaging Devices are integrated devices that are value priced and texting centric; they have full QWERTY keyboards, either physical or virtual, and, since this past fall, full Web browsing capabilities. Customers with these devices are more likely to demand apps, subscribe to messaging and data plans, and are a large potential market for application developers, according to AT&T research.
AT&T Chief Marketing Officer David Christopher announced plans to begin rolling out Quick Messaging Devices with BREW Mobile Platform in the second half of the year, so that by year end 2011, about 90 percent of AT&T's devices in this segment are planned to be based on BREW Mobile Platform. AT&T announced that Samsung will be its first device maker to launch a Quick Messaging Device featuring BREW Mobile Platform. HTC, LG and Pantech also are building devices featuring BREW Mobile Platform for planned availability in late 2010 or early 2011.
"Today, developers must essentially rebuild apps for different handsets and operating systems, increasing their costs, slowing the pace of innovation and stalling the delivery of mobile apps to customers," Christopher said. "We want to tear down the barriers and make it much easier for developers to reach our customers – and for our customers to access apps. Moving to one platform for this fast growing segment of devices will help developers reach millions more customers who want easy access to the hottest mobile apps."
To help developers jumpstart apps development for AT&T's BREW Mobile Platform devices, Christopher announced a new AT&T SDK which features support for BREW Mobile Platform, continued support for Java and widgets, and includes tools to help developers tap into AT&T network capabilities as they design and code their applications. The new AT&T SDK is available starting today at sdk.developer.att.com.
Taking the AT&T Developer Program to the Next Level
AT&T has a longstanding commitment to the developer community. It was among the first major carriers to offer a developer program and has been rated the top carrier development program for the past three years by Evans Data. Today, AT&T executives also announced plans, including some launch schedules, for a series of new or enhanced developer resources including:
Technical support for developers via live chat -- something no other carrier, operating system provider or handset maker offers today – and a tripling of overall tech support by mid-2010.
* Revenue share featuring a standardized 70/30 split for third-party developers in the AT&T App Center.
* AT&T Sandbox, a virtual network environment for developers to test and evaluate applications, which is planned to be available in 2Q 2010.
* AT&T Developer Dashboard, a tool that will let developers track the status of their app once submitted to AT&T, support digital signing of business agreements with AT&T, allow developers to set prices for their apps, and provide performance metrics and customer satisfaction feedback. The dashboard is available now for enterprise application developers and the certification of emerging devices. And for AT&T's consumer development community, the dashboard will also provide needed automation which is planned for the first quarter of 2010.
* New marketing and referral relationships announced today between AT&T and other global carriers using GSM, the de facto world standard for wireless technology. The companies intend to create streamlined processes that help developers make their applications available to their combined base of hundreds of millions of customers.
* AT&T Developer Council, an advisory group hosted by AT&T and made up of leading development and technology companies and other influencers, such as EA Games, Telenav and Bonfire Media.
AT&T also announced a trial program with WaveMarket to make network location information accessible through Veriplace, WaveMarket's cloud location aggregation platform currently in use by more than 1,000 developers. Veriplace allows SMS, Web, WAP and IVR developers to develop location-aware apps and services across device categories and participating carriers. The trial program will launch in the coming weeks.
AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan also said that a new AT&T Virtual Innovation Lab will open in Atlanta in the second quarter to provide developer support for speech, location and messaging APIs (application programming interfaces). In addition, two new Innovation Centers, one in the East and one in the West, are planned for late 2010 to provide 3G and 4G RF (radio frequency) development support, testing and demos.
Bout Damn Time...
@Yob0ii89
Day late IMHO, I just bought the N1 last night. In wake of the T-Mobile 7.2 announcement, the fastest phone on the market, at cheaper plans... I had to make the jump.
@Aubrey
I keep reading how T-mobile is so much cheaper. However, every time I price out a plan, it seems to be pretty much the same as my vzw bill. I just priced a 500 unlimited with unlimited data plan on t-mobile at $70 before taxes and fees ($40 for voice, $30 for data). My 450 voice (which i never use all of because of free cell to cell) and unlimited data plan with vzw is $80 after taxes and fees. Seems to be the same price. Am I missing something here?
@daaper Family Plans are where it add up. I have 700 shared Familly minutes, between two lines. Both get to nominate 5 "myfavs" (free in/out) numbers (hello Google Voice!). One phone has blackberry unlimited data + texts, one has unlimited data + t-mobile WiFi hot spot access. With AAA 15% discount I am $112 per month INC TAX.
@daaper
Compare the unlimited everything plans. That's where the big savings are at.
In the past, T-Mo had various promos and plans that were, in my opinion, much better. I still have my 1500 anytime minutes ($39.99) plus unlimited data w/ 400 MMS/SMS ($25.00), for a total of $64.99. For me, this is almost like having unlimited everything, but for a lot less than the (subsidized) $89.99 or (unsubsidized) $79.99 unlimited everything plan.
@gerrrg
Yeah but if you were to get the nexus one you are required to change plans.
Heh, they're allowing Android devices because they need to drum up more customers and devices before they lose that iPhone exclusive contract, lol.
I am sure they will cripple the device and put yahoo or some crap like that on it. Sadly I use At&t and I hate their devices. I don't want an "iphone" I could buy an ipod touch for that purpose. I hate how these companies cripple their devices. Buy your devices unlocked if possible. AT&T you suck!!! I cant wait till march so i can switch
@Mike Vick AT&T doesn't need software to cripple the device, the crappy network will do that all by itself. The last thing AT&T needs now is even more data-centric devices clogging it up.
@Mike Vick
You think you can make calls on an iPod Touch?
@Alan Strangis I just hate how they cripple their devices and put stupid trial software and the such on phones. Honestly, I want a droid phone so bad but there is nothing on the at&t lineup and I actually like their service. But I hate their phones. I'm loving the new droid and I love HTC phones. What can I do :(
@Mike Vick
They put crap...u flash a new rom on it....end of
@Jack I believe you can, i think its called skype or something like that. I'm sure there is a way to do it. I dont see much of a difference between an ipod touch/iphone other than a call feature.
@Mike Vick
ATT's network is the best where I live and where I travel. I guess that's why I never care about crappy network jabs. It just isn't that way here.
Also, ATT rarely ever cripple a smartphone style device. There WinMo phones usually just get some standard bloatware that other carriers also add. The Blackberries aren't altered. My guess is the Android devices will be the same.
ATT doesn't cripple the hardware except for possible keyboard layout changes. Whether you like their alteration is matter of preference.
@kjb434 Did you not happen to notice AT&T themselves admitting their network is not great? And that the recent 7.2 Mbps upgrade is meaningless b/c of the backhaul structure? And the consumer reports ratings? Glad AT&T works for you, but be honest about the state of things.
@kjb434
You obviously live in your mom's basement and only go upstairs to raid the fridge. OH and your mom has an ATT 3G MicroCell.
@kjb434
In the middle of the CA desert, no problems with AT&T here, I can tell you with experience, Verizon sucks here. So it all depends.
@(Unverified) Which desert? LOL
@Mike Vick
If you want to talk about a provider crippling devices, look no further than Verizon. They are the king of cripplers.
@ArhcAngel
Speaking from experience?
Finally! God, but I'm sure these will be the weakest forms of Android as possible. I swear if Verizon does get the iPhone this year, AT&T might as well pack up their blue ball and leave.
@TankerZ
I hope the iPhone does go to verizon so verizon customers can hate life. What the hell is the point of having a device Like the iPhone on a network that doesn't support simultaneous voice and data? What Att will actually do is lay back and watch as the iPhone exposes verizons inferior network. Have fun with that.
@Skellybits
Exactly. I want to see how Verizon networks holds up with all those iphones on board.
@Skellybits
OK Luke Wilson. You didn't just really make the whole "you can't talk and surf" case against Verizon did you? How about the whole "you can't talk or hear in general" case against AT&T? Fact of the matter is, who gives a %^$& if you can talk and surf if you can't talk at all? By the time your results pops up, AT&T already dropped the call.
@Goona Some of these people are so blinded by hate they wont be able to tell the truth when it happens. It is what will happen though. What good will all those featues do you when you can only use them one at a time.
@w00zzy
Couldn't have put it better. Watch how they will come and downrank you soon.
Good. Now some of you can stop blaming Apple for all of AT&T's crap service and coverage.
@Nicnac go die :)
@dedparrot
after you.
What I said is true. I also said SOME of you. Don't threaten me, you coward.
copying is the sincerest form of flattery.
i hope they get it right.
They better have at least 1 Gen2 device in the mix. But it will probably end up being all Gen1 hardware. I would love to be proven wrong.
Doed this put Android on all major U.S carriers now?
@ChazClout Yes.
@gerrrg
Good stuff. More power to Android!
moto will be for teens. i hope dell has something better than the brazil china phone they have out. HTC nexus one type phone?
@wupolo that would make my day.
Five huh? Looks like someone is serious about playing catchup.
Bring on the competition......
Hopefully they will have at least one device comparable to the iPhone, no Backflip crap.
first Sony announces SD cards and now this?!
in other news, the devil has just tweeted: brrrr
@Jones Johnson
Same thing I've been complaining about for months now.
Must be really cold down in hell now.
Nexus One on AT&T, plz...
@Padilla7921
Not going to happen. They are going to pay millions for an AT&T branded, HTC equivalent to the Nexus One - but it wont really be the Nexus One. Pwned by VZW, T-Mo and Unlocked.
I like the asterisk next to "the nation's fastest 3G network."
@cohara
crap, you beat me to it :)
yep, at&t has to qualify everything, e.g., the asterisk with 3G and 5 Android devices coming in the "first half" of 2010. the latter meaning sometime in May/June 2010 (if then). and yes, i am an at&t subscriber, so that qualifies me to BMW (bitch, moan and whine) about their service, lol.
@brown like dookie
Seriously lol....iphone users + android users + a company not holding their cash instead of improving network = disaster
It's just a ticking time bomb about to explode
"Get ready for Android smartphones on the nation's fastest 3G networkASTERISK"
The Backflip is gonna suck, they better be showing some stuff that is a hell of a lot better than that. If not, they may as well have not wasted their efforts bringing Android devices to their line up.
@NYNY
Why? It looks amazing actually.
@junktrunk It looks like a cheap iPhone ripoff with no Gmail... Just click on the Backflip link, you'll see what I mean.