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AT&T's Mobile TV Debuts. How Does It Really Work?

AT&T Mobile TV is launching today in San Antonio, where I live. 

Think  traditional multi-media cell phone meets TV programming.   Currently, AT&T is offering  continuous streaming, full-length live TV programming and sporting events to mobile phones from leading sources: CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX News, FOX Mobile, NBC 2Go, MSNBC, MTV, Nickelodeon, CNN Mobile and PIX.

My review is a bit different.  I asked my buddy, George Kauss, whose previous company, Vesuvius owned the patents to make the technology work. (Their patents were sold to Qualcomm.)   George is now with a new company, Vulano Group.  Here's George's review of the service and how it works.

The service is available on four AT&T handsets: Samsung Access, Samsung Eternity, LG Invision and LG Vu.  For the purposes of this review, I was given the Eternity to try out. 

I like it alot and found myself leaving the phone on and watching CNBC during the day, watching yesterday's  Senate Hearings with the Automobile Industry.  (I am against a bail-out).

Aside from traditional programming  the service includes two channels exclusive to AT&T:

•    CNN Mobile Live provides users with access to 24 hours of breaking news with live streaming anchored coverage from CNN.com Live as well as CNN’s most popular programs, including “American Morning,” “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” “CNN Election Center,” “Larry King Live,” “Anderson Cooper 360º” and “CNN International.”
•    PIX, from Sony Pictures Television, offers a variety of contemporary films, including comedies, cult classics, action films and family favorites from the studio’s vast library.

Costs...
Monthly access packages for AT&T Mobile TV begin at $15 per month for the basic package, which includes unlimited access to Mobile TV. AT&T also offers a Mobile TV plus package for $30 per month, which includes unlimited Mobile TV, unlimited mobile Web browsing on MEdia NetTM and unlimited CV mobile video. Programming is delivered to mobile phones over MediaFLO USA’s own dedicated multicast network, meaning AT&T customers do not incur additional data or voice charges.

In addition to new availability in San Antonio, AT&T Mobile TV is also available in roughly 60 markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Web TV Worth Watching! More Alternatives to Traditional "TV" Programming. Check Out "Ylse"

My friend, (and noted Emmy award winning journalist) Patricio Espinosa, just introduced me to a new webseries for Latinos by Latinos.  Even though AT&T does offer Hispanic programming, there are alternatives directly on the web. Here's a great example of innovation and creativity you won't find elsewhere.

"Ylse" Unapologetically Latina! from Patricio Espinoza on Vimeo.

Created by Ruth Livier, Showtime Resurrection Blvd., "Ylse" (ee-l-say) for those Spanish impaired :) is the story of a Latina journalist looking to break in, and the challenges she must face... from political correctness to bra "pads". Part irreverent comedy, part drama and part activist "Ylse" is someone everyone should meet, and a Latina, Latinos would most certainly identify with.

The web-only series is bilingual but mostly in English "Ylse" it's pretty much a work of love at this point. E.P. and director Joe Camareno and Ruth Livier, E.P., Creator, Writer talk to espiBlog.org Emmy award winning Journalist Patricio Espinoza.

Web TV - Worth Watching!

AT&T Experience Store Needs to Upgrade Its Data Lines....

On Saturday, I went to pay a visit to my local AT&T Experience Store in San Antonio to make some updates and changes to my wireless plan.

I won't give out the name of the person who helped me to protect the innocent.  He / she was very nice, helped me make the changes I needed, and got business taken care of.

While waiting for my account to load on the screen, he apologized, explaining to me that AT&T's data lines into the store were really slow. 

What?

I thought the phone company gets this stuff free since they are....the phone company?

Yes, even with a T1 line in the store, the Opus system that holds all your customer information, is just plain slow.  And this is not the first time I have heard this from AT&T Retail Sales staff.

One reader suggested that the sluggish lines was due to the fact that it was a Saturday.  I brought this issue up to the sales person who helped me and he told me that this happens every day.

My suggestion:  upgrade the data lines to T3

AT&T Receives Technology & Engineering Emmy Award

While I am really trying to shift towards being a consumer-facing blog, I still think it's important to point to certain corporate news items AT&T promotes.

In this case, I point to the announcement from the CES Show in which the company was awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

AT&T won the award for its invention of coaxial cable technology, which delivered the first broadband transmission medium nearly 75 years ago.

This award is not only notable, but also serves as a reminder to myself that the phone company as we no longer know it, is really no stranger to broadcast media and the disruption of an industry it has helped to create.

Here's a Second Look at AT&T's Video Share Service

In principle, a good idea:  use your cell phone to broadcast live video to a friend, colleague, parent, child, etc.  In reality, you both need to have compatible phones, be in a 3G area and pony up another $10 per month for up to 60 minutes of use.

AT&T's Video Share , is basically a one-way video live streaming service that lets you share the moment during a mobile-to-mobile phone call.

Here is a fair and balanced video review. If you have an application where you are using VideoShare, send it along to: alan at weinkrantz dot com.

How To Program Your AT&T U-verse Remote Control

Need to Program Your AT&T U-verse Remote Control?

Here is a handy step by step guide.   

Download it here:
Download remote_control_user_guide.pdf

For Your Christmas Day View Pleasure...Here is My Favorite AT&T Video of 2007

And now for your Christmas Day viewing pleasure....here is my personal favorite AT&T video of 2007. 

It's Steve Colbert's analysis of how, thanks to America's anti-trust laws, AT&T was able to glue itself back together again.....roll the tape and enjoy your day!

Why Buy Dirty Movies From AT&T When You Can Get Better "Adult" Programming From FyreTV?

Seems like new and innovative ideas in adult programming just  keeps coming and coming (sorry for the pun.)

Introducing FyreTV a low-cost, subscription-based service for streaming adult movies over a broadband connection.

Now, you can have a dedicated "boxxx" sitting in your bedroom (or basement if you need to keep it hidden from the little ones) that runs off your AT&T broadband connection and enjoy all the adult programming you can eat.

Just think, you can avoid the hassles of driving to the video store, only to be seen in line by your pals from the church choir, or waiting on videos in the mail, or downloading low-quality movies from the Internet, or heaven forbid paying $10 per dirty movie from AT&T.

Instead, access the programming you want, when you want it. FyreTV works with a variety of studios to bring you the most diverse collection of adult programming – all accessible with just a television and broadband connection.

How Does it Work?
FyreTV is a type of digital television service delivered through your broadband connection.  All those wonderful movies are sent to your new set-top box which in no way connects to, or interferes with the one that AT&T gives you.   The box connects directly to your television and is programmed to handle your requests for accessing available programming.

Does FyreTV Download Movies to my Television?
FyreTV does not download anything to your television, so no need about getting caught - or if you are a bad guy, AT&T and the CIA won't be able to raid your hard drive to see what you've been watching.   Instead, it uses streaming technology to offer you immediate access to your movies. You can avoid the delays from buffering and instantly receive the programming you want.

How Do You Get Started?
Sign up for an account and select the programming package that best fits your tastes.  Sure, the plot lines may all be pretty much the same, but regardless of the outcome, FyreTV ships you your set-top box, remote, and instructions for getting started.

All you need is a television and broadband connection. No computers, cable, or installation are required.

How Do You Select a Movie?
FyreTV operates with a proprietary search engine that enables you to find programming using a variety of search terms and categories, such as titles, performers, scene types, or even specific performer characteristics.

Conduct a new search or browse through the FyreTV programming library to find your desired movie. Then, play your movie from the beginning, or select a specific scene through FyreTV’s extensive scene breakdown menu. You can also use navigation controls for fast forwarding and rewinding as well as create playlists and log favorites to save your selections.

What Type of Content Does FyerTV Provide?
FyreTV works with a variety "leading studios"  to provide you with an extensive library of adult programming. Sign up to access content from the studios of your choice, such as Acid Rain, Combat Zone, Digital Sin, Kbeech, Metro Interactive, Mercenary Pictures, New Sensations, Teravision, VCX and many others.

How is the Viewing Quality?
FyreTV offers DVD-quality programming. FyreTV’s deployment platform is optimized to deliver the highest quality of programming. The service provides you the option to configure your movie quality based on the speed of your Internet connection. Enjoy DVD-quality programming on demand.

Right now, the company is looking for Beta testers to try out the system.  Pricing is not yet available...or at least I could not figure it out.   My suggestion is that you give it a try and if you do, let me know what you think with an email to: alan at weinkrantz dot com.

Wanna Record Video on Your iPhone? Could It Disrupt AT&T's Own VideoShare Service in the Future?

Sorry, I have been off from posting for a few days. 

I have been backlogged with the day job.

Just found something very cool on Gizmodo.  An application to record video on your iPhone.

Could this possibly disrupt AT&T's own VideoShare service in the near future?

A Very Good Cause.....Got A Spare Cell Phone? Bring It By Your AT&T Wireless Store Who Will Donate it to An American Solider in Iraq

If you want to make a difference this holiday season, donate your old or used wireless phone to an American soldier in Iraq.

AT&T's Cell Phones For Soldiers (CPFS) have announced a nationwide call to action for holiday mobile phone donations to help fund the purchase of prepaid phone cards for military personnel stationed in Iraq. AT&T and CPFS have set a goal of raising $1.4 million worth of prepaid cards in the first year of their relationship. This goal would enable every military member stationed in Iraq to make a free, 20-minute phone call home.

AT&T's 1,800 company-owned retail stores across the United States serve as donation sites for used mobile phones, and the company is contributing 30,000 additional prepaid phone cards for the holidays to CPFS — valued at more than $250,000 — to further help the effort. This brings AT&T's total commitment for the year to more than $500,000 in free phone cards for the charity and follow's AT&T's announced donation of 30,000 prepaid cards this past summer.

Over the past two years, AT&T has donated more than $4 million worth of prepaid phone cards to help support U.S. military members and their families. These donations include direct distributions to troops serving in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan and Europe.

Individuals can also make financial contributions to CPFS as a gift for a family member or friend by going to www.att.com/holidayconnect. There, AT&T and CPFS are providing a secure link for making a donation and printing or e-mailing a free holiday card. The card can be used to notify someone that a donation has been made in his or her name to help support military families this holiday season.

CPFS was established by two Norwell, Mass., teenagers — Brittany Bergquist, 16, and her brother Robbie Bergquist, 15. The teens continue to collect and recycle used wireless phones and, with the proceeds, purchase prepaid phone cards for military families. Since the Bergquists founded the program in April 2004, they have raised more than $1 million and have sent more than 400,000 phone cards to troops.

Additional information on these and other initiatives, including a list of AT&T retail locations serving as drop-off sites for CPFS, is available at www.att.com/troopsupport.