EmergingDevices
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AT&T opens latest Foundry facility in Atlanta, focusing on the connected car, home automation and emerging devices
If you haven't been paying attention, here's the skinny: US carriers are doing everything they can to expand their horizons, and in the case of Verizon and AT&T, this sense of urgency has led to the creation of numerous innovation labs. In a nutshell, these facilities serve as incubation centers for startups and well-positioned outfits alike that are looking to add cellular connectivity to whatever it is they're hawking. AT&T's latest facility -- its fourth in total -- will open its doors later today, with the Atlanta-based Foundry focusing on innovation in the connected car and emerging devices sectors. Moreover, it'll be used to further AT&T's own U-verse and Digital Life platforms, though specifics of what exactly engineers will be toiling on remain under wraps. For an idea of what all goes down at places like this, have a look at a tour we took through one of Verizon's Innovation Centers right here; we're hoping to get a similar look at AT&T's lairs when time allows.
HTC launches 'Emerging Devices' arm, reorganizes US operations
HTC's attempts to dig itself out of its financial quagmire has seen some high-profile departures hogging the headline space beside its high profile devices. The latest boardroom shuffle concentrates on the company's American operations, which will now be headed up by former global sales head Jason Mackenzie (above right, playing rock-paper-scissors with Brad). At the same time, the company is establishing a new "Emerging Devices" unit, designed to focus on new products and "global distribution strategies," whatever that means.
AT&T announces home automation platform, eco-ratings for consumer devices
Today, AT&T revealed that it's working on a new home monitoring and automation platform known as Digital Life. While it'll be marketed toward service providers, the IP-based system will allow business and residential users alike to remotely monitor cameras, lighting, thermostats, motion detectors, window and door sensors, along with a litany of other devices. It'll be demonstrated next week in Barcelona as part of the GSM Association's Connected Home experience. As you'd expect, we'll be there to bring you a peek of AT&T's handiwork.The company has also announced that, later this year, customers will find eco-rating labels on AT&T-branded mobile devices. With this initiative, shoppers may evaluate criteria such as a product's energy efficiency, the percentage of recycled materials used in manufacture, and the inclusion of metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. These factors and more will be presented as a composite score that evaluates the sustainability attributes of each device -- think of it as an easy way to get your green in gear. You'll find the PR for both announcements after the break.
AT&T plans to sell exercise apparel that tracks your vitals, performance
It's not enough for AT&T to simply sell cellphones, its emerging devices unit also traffics in everything from GPS dog collars to connected pill bottles. Now the company wants in on the fitness tracking craze. Forbes is reporting that Ma Bell will start offering apparel that could track GPS routes, heart rate and other vital stats -- similar to the E39 shirt above from Zephyr and Under Armour. The clothing isn't just for athletes though, the military, first responders and seniors could also benefit from the technology. Sadly, no firm release date or prices were announced, so don't expect to wander into a Modell's and pick up a wicking t-shirt that uploads your workouts to RunKeeper any time soon.
Glenn Lurie now heading up AT&T Emerging Devices
Glenn Lurie, formerly the president of National Distribution for AT&T Mobility and in tight with the launch of the iPhone, is sitting in a new corner office today, and the placard outside now reads "President of AT&T Emerging Devices, National Distribution and Resale." In the role, Mr. Lurie will lead the carrier's "strategic initiative to drive the innovation that will bring wireless connectivity to a host of new consumer electronics devices and applications." We're talking PCs, MIDs, UMPCs, cars, navigation systems -- you name it, this is your man for getting AT&T wrapped up in it. One of his first quotes in the new position was that "high-speed wireless broadband service can enhance a huge variety of gadgets," and while some may say that's obvious, we're just glad the man has his sights set in the right direction. More WWAN devices of any kind? Yes, please.
