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AT&T's mobile U-verse getting upgraded: download your recordings on the go
In a session held by AT&T at CTIA today, the carrier previewed an upgraded version of its mobile U-verse app, and let's just put it this way: it's significantly more important to AT&T's "three-screen" strategy than the version that launched in the middle of last year. The big deal is that shows recorded on your box at home can be streamed to your phone from any WiFi hotspot, a nice little bonus for U-verse subscribers who haven't ponied up for something like a Slingbox. We don't have a launch date yet, but what we saw demoed today certainly looked like it was just about ready to go -- and fortunately, they'll be bringing the app to a number of platforms, not just the iPhone alone. Follow the break for a few more shots of AT&T's David Christopher demoing the goodies on the overhead.%Gallery-88957%
AT&T's U-Verse iPhone / iPod touch app launched
We're pretty big fans of AT&T's U-verse (though, alas, we're not lucky enough to live in an area where we can have it!), and we sort of figured a few days back when the company rolled out some new tweaks to its Total Home DVR that something like this might be on the horizon, and here it is. AT&T's rolled out a free app for the iPhone app store that allows users to access the entire program guide, search for specific shows, and schedule, manage and delete programs and settings. The Mobile Remote Access App -- as it's not-so-creatively called -- sounds like a real winner for those with both U-Verse service and an iPhone... but then, we still communicate primarily with quills and parchment, so what would we know? One more screenshot of the app (plus a video!) after the break.
U-verse TV subscribers score interactive college basketball app
Make no mistake -- legions of cube-dwellers will be tuning into March Madness On Demand this Thursday, but those lucky / unlucky enough to be sitting at home in front of their U-verse TV DVR can enjoy one other luxury: an interactive application. AT&T has partnered up with Yahoo! Sports in order to add in a free college basketball U-bar app that will give March Madness fans the ability to view tournament brackets, their personalized completed bracket, game summaries and box scores, and video clips of game analysis / commentary with a simple remote click. Nah, it's no DirecTV-like four-screens-in-one, but it's definitely better than anything offered up on cable. Check out a simple video demonstration here.
AT&T adds record number of U-verse TV subscribers in Q4
AT&T's overall Q4 earnings may have dipped 23.6 percent, but its U-verse unit has a few things going for it. Aside from passing the coveted one million mark in customers during the course of last quarter, the company also added a best-ever 264,000 U-verse TV customers. Moreover, the build currently reaches some 17 million living units, but we are told a bit of unfortunate news in terms of future expansion. Remember those plans to "more than double U-verse TV availability by 2010?" Yeah, that has already slipped into 2011, barely a month after the 2010 date was frantically shot out. Alright Verizon, time to get your deployment teams out of Massachusetts and make AT&T regret this, wouldn't you say?
AT&T's U-verse TV picking up seven Viacom networks in HD
Just days after AT&T announced that NHL Network HD would be gliding over to U-verse TV, in flies a report stating that Viacom and AT&T have linked up on a sweet new deal. Said agreement will enable seven new networks to join the U-verse TV EPG: MTV HD, VH1 HD, CMT HD, BET HD, Nickelodeon HD, Comedy Central HD and Spike HD. The deal also "renews carriage of the MTVN and BETN channels and VOD content featured on AT&T U-verse TV, and provides for carriage of new international channels, including MTV India, later this year." Now, let's wait and see if those monthly rates creep up any after the fact.
AT&T delivers U-verse in Salinas and Monterey, CA
During the chaos that was CES, AT&T saw fit to string its U-verse services to two new locales in the Golden State. Starting now, select homes in the Salinas and Monterey areas have access to U-verse high-speed internet, U-verse Voice and U-verse TV, though exact neighborhoods weren't mentioned. You know what that means -- get on the horn and see if your address is covered.
NHL Network HD skates onto AT&T's U-verse TV
AT&T may be raising its U-verse TV rates, but at least it's showing subscribers that all those dollars aren't going to waste (or a bigwig's pocket). Starting this week, both NHL Network and NHL Network HD are being added to the U-verse TV lineup, but you'll need either the U400 tier or The Sports Package in order to view 'em. Catch the action on the ice right now on slot 1638 (HD) / 638 (SD).
Topeka, Kansas gets another pay-TV option: AT&T's U-verse TV
Topeka area residents have been primarily dealing with Cox Communications for years, but according to a new article in The Capital-Journal, AT&T is about to change that. As of now, U-verse TV is available for ordering in select parts of the city, and if you're curious to know if you're one of the lucky few (relatively), hit the read link and surf over to A the carrier's availability checker.[Thanks, Kevin]
AT&T to rival TWC with U-verse TV launch in El Paso, Texas
Ruh roh, Time Warner Cable -- AT&T has just encroached on yet another one of your main markets, as U-verse TV will soon be coming to El Paso, Texas. As of now, TWC is the only major pay-TV carrier in the region, so if you're not kosher with a dish, it's currently the one and only option. Of course, U-verse isn't new to the Lone Star state, but we get the feeling that El Paso residents will be singing praises at the sight of new competition. If you're anxious to see what fiber can deliver, call up AT&T and see if your domicile is currently serviceable.[Thanks, Chris and Gabe]
AT&T hiking U-verse TV package rates for new customers... in Wisconsin, anyway
Those of you who reckoned AT&T was simply "above" those ignoble price hikes that cable companies are so famous for have some reality to check. Within the last week and change, the operator has announced that it will be pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February, ditching the whole "free access to Flickr Pro" thing and now, raising rates for new subscribers in the Badger State. According to a new writeup in Madison-based The Capital Times, a company spokesman has affirmed that three of its primary TV packages (U100, U200 and U-family) will increase by $5 per month for new customers, while existing subs will narrowly escape the hike for now. The changes are set to go into effect on February 1, 2009, and of course, they come hot on the heels of Charter's decision to push prices skyward. So much for competition driving prices south, huh?
AT&T's U-verse TV expands to more South Florida homes
AT&T vowed to make its U-verse TV service available to more homes on an ongoing basis when it first launched in South Florida, and expand it has. One tipster down in sunny Ft. Lauderdale just received a postcard in the mail informing him that the service was available for his domicile, and upon investigating, he found that it was actually available now for the majority of Broward County (including Ft. Lauderdale, Deerfield / Pompano Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate, Coral Springs, and Davie). Chances are, you're probably just kicking back enjoying the break anyway -- why not phone up the carrier and see if your address is in the lucky list?[Thanks, Sam]
AT&T pushes U-verse to Lansing, Michigan
Flint and Saginaw aren't too far from Lansing, and apparently it's the latest town in Michigan to get AT&T's U-verse. According to a fiber-craving local who has been plugging his address in for months in hopes of getting good news, he finally got the reply he has been looking for. In at least some parts of the city, U-verse TV and high-speed internet can now be ordered, and we hear Sparty is quite happy to know of the additional competition.[Thanks, Glenn]
AT&T to stop giving U-verse users free access to Flickr Pro
It may be easiest to bang on those cable carriers who all seem to hop on the price hike bandwagon at the same time, but AT&T's making a name for itself in the up, up, up department. Shortly after hearing that a few U-verse TV components would be priced higher come February, we're now clued in to the fact that U-verse users will no longer have gratis access to Flickr Pro. Beginning on January 31, 2009, those currently using a Flickr Pro account will downgraded to the free version of Flickr unless they opt to pay the $25 yearly fee. Who knows -- maybe not enough users were taking advantage? Either way, the news sure bites for those who've been enjoying it on the house.[Thanks, Justin]
AT&T pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February 2009
It was only a few months ago that AT&T struck a nerve with HD subscribers due to a $5 monthly increase for three new channels, and now it seems it's back to the tried-and-true nickle and dime approach once more. Customers are beginning to receive email notifications (posted in full after the break) that beginning February 1, 2009, the monthly rates for a few services will be headed skyward. For starters, those non-DVR U-verse receivers will soon cost $7 per month versus the $5 per month that they cost now. Additionally, the Movie Package will shoot up from $15 to $20 (monthly) and Paquete Español will increase from $10 to $15 (also monthly). Got any other impending hikes we should know about, AT&T?[Thanks, Darrell]
AT&T strings U-verse TV to Columbia, South Carolina
Awake, Gamecock Nation! We know you're already packing up the tailgating gear to head for the Outback Bowl, but you've an important decision to make beforehand. Along with Birmingham and Nashville, the great city of Columbia, South Carolina will also get its first taste of U-verse TV this week. Starting today, select parts of the city will be able to order up the outfit's fiber-based programming service, though no details about which areas were given. You know what that means -- time to make a phone call whilst crossing your fingers.
AT&T plans to more than double U-verse TV availability by 2010
Upping the stakes, are we AT&T? Just weeks after proudly announcing that it had successfully reached its goal of netting one million U-verse TV subscribers before the end of 2008, a tidbit on the outfit's official U-verse portal clearly makes known its plans for future expansion. The operator has been rolling service out to all new areas at a frenzied pace, and now we know why: it's hoping to pass around 30 million living units by the end of 2010. To put that into perspective, U-verse TV is currently available to 14 million living units, meaning that it is aiming to over double availability in just over two years. Good on you, AT&T -- now let's make it happen (and ahead of schedule, if possible).
Nashville, TN grabs AT&T's U-verse TV this week
AT&T just announced that its U-verse services would be introduced in Birmingham, Alabama this week, and it's evidently making a similar rollout across Middle Tennessee. We've been hearing that AT&T was looking to infiltrate the Volunteer State for months on end, and at long last we're finding out that those whispers were legit. According to a recent article in The Tennessean, select parts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee will become the first areas in the state to receive U-verse TV and high-speed internet. The best part of all of this is that AT&T has successful acquired a statewide license to lay service, meaning that it could very well hit more areas in short order. In fact, the operator has already vowed to expand U-verse to "about 60 cities and numerous counties" over the next two years, with "Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville and some rural areas" named in particular.[Thanks, anonymous]
Birmingham, Alabama becomes next city to get AT&T's U-verse TV
The siege is on. A mere seven months after AT&T first made clear that it was intent on making Alabama a U-verse state, we've learned within the past week that the services will be coming to Cullman and now Birmingham. Starting tomorrow, U-verse TV and high-speed internet will be available for ordering in select parts of the city, just a week before the Wolfpack of NC State treks down to trample the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Stay patient, Alabama -- AT&T's lines should be headed to your hood within the next little while.
AT&T's U-verse survives a year in Columbus, Ohio
Yeah, we said it -- survived. Columbus is one of the toughest markets to be a pay-TV provider in, as you've got competitors coming from pretty much every angle. That said, AT&T has managed to grow its U-verse TV business in the Ohio city over the past year, as it is now available to over 50 communities in the area. Interestingly, the operator doesn't take the time to brag about exactly how many consumers it has here, but we're betting it's a bit less than most regions simply due to the plethora of other options. At any rate, here's your birthday card AT&T, and no, there's no money tucked away after the break.
AT&T finalizes deal to bring U-verse to Cullman, AL
We knew that AT&T was moving in hot and heavy in an attempt to make Alabama its home turf, and now it looks like the plan is beginning to succeed. A recent writeup in The Cullman Times asserts that the deed has been done and that "Cullman, AL residents will soon have their first taste of cable competition." Mayor Max Townson along with the city council "recently approved the final contract agreement with AT&T to provide cable services to city residents," and when said service arrives, it will battle against local mainstay Time Warner Cable for those hard-earned pay-TV dollars. Sadly, no exact launch date was provided, but we are told that the contract will allow AT&T to "turn it on within the next six months to a year."