U-verse Mobile 2.0 for iPhone available, combines downloadable TV shows with remote DVR access
By Richard Lawler 
posted August 9th 2010 2:28PM
posted August 9th 2010 2:28PM
AT&T LAUNCHES U-VERSE MOBILE APP TO LET CUSTOMERS RECORD AND WATCH TV SHOWS FROM IPHONES
First TV Provider to Offer iPhone App with DVR Management and Ability to Download and Watch TV Content While on the Go
DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2010 - AT&T* today announced its AT&T U-verse® Mobile App is now available on the App Store.
The U-verse Mobile app gives U-verse subscribers the ability to download and watch popular TV content on their iPhone so they can take their U-verse TV experience with them, wherever they go. AT&T is the first TV provider to offer an integrated mobile app that allows you to both manage your DVR and download and watch select shows. The app is another example of how AT&T delivers more value to U-verse TV customers with continued service enhancements and innovative apps.
U-verse Mobile replaces the popular Mobile Remote Access for iPhone app and incorporates the ability to browse the U-verse TV program guide, view program descriptions, schedule and manage your DVR recordings, while adding the ability to download available episodes over any Wi-Fi connection, and watch them in full-screen mode on your iPhone from anywhere. U-verse TV customers already enjoy the flexibility of remote DVR management. More than 100,000 U-verse TV customers use the Web and Mobile Remote Access apps every month.
"We're making it possible for you to watch TV shows on your iPhone at no extra charge. It's just one more valuable and innovative feature available on U-verse TV," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Our U-verse multi-screen promise is now a reality for millions of U-verse TV customers, with content available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, and today, U-verse Mobile. No cable provider comes close to matching the cross-platform experience we're delivering today, and we'll continue to add unique features that further integrate these screens."
All U-verse TV customers can download the app to manage their DVR, and the ability to download and watch content is available for customers that subscribe to the U300 package or higher. U-verse customers can upgrade their TV packages at any time at www.att.com/u-verse. New U-verse TV customers and iPhone owners that order AT&T U-verse U300 or U450 will receive a $75 iTunes gift card.
You can browse or search a library of downloadable shows, and select which series or specific episode you want to download. The content is downloaded to iPhone over a Wi-Fi connection. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet customers have home Wi-Fi installed as part of their service and get access to AT&T's U.S. Wi-Fi network at no additional cost.
The U-verse Mobile App includes TV shows from several popular networks and AT&T will continue to add more content on an ongoing basis. U-verse Mobile is the latest way that AT&T is mobilizing everything that's important to customers - their favorite content, apps, entertainment and social networks. AT&T today delivers the nation's fastest mobile broadband network as well as the nation's largest Wi-Fi network, giving customers the best combination of speed and coverage.
The U-verse Mobile App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
AT&T U-verse offers numerous features and apps that enhance your entertainment experience, including many ways that TV and wireless services work together - a benefit that cable providers don't offer. In addition to U-verse Mobile, you can check your wireless and U-verse Voice messages from a single voice mailbox; use the YP.COM TV app to search for local business information and send the call to your home or wireless phone with the click of your remote; and more.
AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. AT&T U-verse TV ranked "Highest in Residential Television Service Satisfaction in the South and West Regions Two Years in a Row," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 and 2009 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction StudiesSM. For additional information on AT&T U-verse - or to find out if it's available in your area - visit www.att.com/u-verse.
Nice, it's like a combination of what Sky are already doing in the UK. But without charging for the second arm in addition to what they already charge.
@d0mth0ma5 Yeah that's great. Well I have U200 and it's only compatible with U300 packages and higher. Thanks AT&T, you're loyalty to customers shines once more.
@georgeangelo It's probably a gradual roll-out (although they wouldn't announce that), use it as an incentive to get people to upgrade if they were on the fence about it. Then in 6-12 months allow the lower packages to access it.
@d0mth0ma5 I hope so. I've been waiting on this since they announced it.
@d0mth0ma5 What's U-Verse TV?
@camerafan "AT&T U-verse is a VDSL service offered by AT&T in various parts of the United States. It provides broadband internet access, TV, and phone through a fiber-to-the-node communications network."
@d0mth0ma5 I doubt it. AT&T isn't that smart.
@d0mth0ma5
I don't understand why wifi only?
Especially now that it costs $55/5gb
YO TIVO! WAZUP?!
Cool, every service provider should include this feature for free imo.
@mjpaxson I'm hoping DirecTV does this, too. Setting up shows to record is actually easier on the iPhone that it is with the DVR. Being able to watch them there would be even better.
Android support would definitely be nice. Finally I'm able to get U-Verse in my area. Ditching Comcast was wonderful!
@Dafrety I'm with you.. ditched Comcast, have Uverse 450 and 24meg internet.. the app is awesome.. already downloading shows.
@bdon78
uverse is nice...but im canceling my U200. i just dont watch enough tv to warrant $110 a month. $20 for at&t dsl with a $69 roku box is the option im sticking with!
@doug
I don't watch much TV either, it's mostly everyone else in my family. I'm very pleased though that I finally can get something faster than 6 Mbp/s internet. I now have double that, and I could even get 24 Mbp/s should that strike my fancy.
U200 FML. :( but FTW on my wallet
U300 and above only is complete bullshit...
@StPaddy81 U300 is not worth the price, who wants Showtime anyways? They need to knock it down to U200 and higher.
Perhaps I misread if before, but I could have sworn the initial release about this upgrade included streaming of DVR content or some such.
@Critic2029 - I believe a DVR software update (Mediaroom) has to be in place before that feature can happen. It's probably the same update that will give us the ability to use the Xbox as a STB.
@muzzymate
Maybe they'll also fix the HDMI sound popping thats been plaguing the boxes since day one.
@Critic2029
yep you are correct. and it is exactly what i'm waiting for:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/atandt-u-verse-mobile-getting-upgraded-download-your-recordings-o/
You have to have the premium packages to watch shows you already pay for in a standard package. I already spend too much for tv I don't watch with a standard package.
What demographic is keeping that crappy show on the air? I mean seriously.
@Squalor Dunno, but there are 13.8 million of them.
@Squalor
Women... heard of them?
@Christopher02: Obviously I haven't; I'm posting on Engadget.
@Squalor
Yeah, me neither. See ya.
Where is the Android app?
@Havoc70 - who cares!
@Havoc70
I agree, where the hell is the Android app AT&T?
There will not be an Android app available till AT&T have lost exclusive rights to the iPhone.
Please bring this to WP7 also lets get moving with the XBOX 360 IPTV already!
@Pookiewood
It's not even out.
@Accelerator Well Duh. :p I know that. Engadget just did a story of a few of the first Apps and I'm just requesting apps in advance that's all! :p
GREAT! But the DVR and non-DVR receivers still suck. Now add the 2 more HD streams, increase the HD vid quality and option to watch show on my PC and U-Verse will be completed.
@shotta NO Kidding. I have 4 HD tvs in the house. i never use more than one at a time, and i run into the "all HD channels are in use" message all the time. why? because the dvr, records 3 mins past and 3min before many recordings, so if I have 2 things recording at 9pm and two things at 10pm, then i cant watch live tv with out canceling a recording. Seriously att 4 HD streams? i dont even have a "large" house....i didnt know this when i killed comcast, and this annoys me all the time.
So that's kinda a bummer I thought that this new app was going to allow you to stream content from your DVR to your iPhone. Kinda neat ... but no where near what I was hoping for.
This is what Gizmodo said in their previous article "It's a sleek-looking, intuitive interface that'll let U-Verse customers watch recorded video on their phones."
How would one not assume that means watch your recorded content?
Instead we get a random assortment of old episides that can be downloaded on your iPhone over wifi. Kinda cool ... but why can't we do this on our computers or through our uverse box then.
I would find it much more useful to be able to download or stream episodes of shows I actually recorded on my dvr on my iPhone.
Sad ...
Also when the heck is Uverse finally going to allow me to use my Xbox 360 as uverse box like Microsoft promised.
@spidertaker23
Microsoft's promises mean nothing. AT&T never said it would roll out XBox support. Just because Mediaroom supports it doesn't mean all the carriers will adopt it.
Complete disappointment on all fronts. And the u300+ thing just makes me mad.
You have to download the entire show? It doesn't stream it? What is this, 1998?
@grindking Completely agree!
I thought we would at least get wifi streaming.
I also thought this was going to be your DVR content ... not just some random crap they decided to give you.
@grindking you would prolly prefer a download for watching later as its only going over wifi. download at home for your wifi-less commute later
Hopefully they make it work for the Samsung Jack.
I too have U200 and will not be upgrading just to get this paltry feature. Just to be clear: this does not let you access the shows recorded on your DVR (like Slingbox does now that it's finally working again). It's like a low-rent version of Hulu, giving you download access to a few select shows (mostly ABC properties). I was hoping AT&T would allow their DVRs to work like a Slingbox and stream content to your phone; but that's just not the case. I guess my Slingbox will stay off of ebay for now.
Droid that s#!% up! I got Verizon but am still a u verse customer!
I have U300 and agree: All level packages should have this. Shame on AT&T. Now for us jailbroken iPhone users, we just need to fool the U-Verse app it with 3G Unrestrictor!
Now we need an Android App
What? You mean AT&T didn't release this on America's #1 selling smartphone OS first? How can this be?
/sarcasm
@macbland ...put some ointment on that butt hurt. ASAP.