AT&T Integrates Homezone Service with Wireless Phones, Expands Downloadable Titles with Video from Akimbo
Homezone Customers Can Now Program Their TVs From Their Wireless Phones, Enjoy Thousands More Titles via Internet-Based Video on Demand
SAN ANTONIO, March 6 -- Delivering on its commitment to connecting the three screens that many consumers value the most -- the PC, the TV and the wireless phone -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today that AT&T HomezoneSM customers can now manage their television recordings via wireless handsets. This new offering positions AT&T among the first major entertainment providers to offer this advanced feature.
Additionally, AT&T announced that it has expanded the service's on-demand content offerings via the Internet to include thousands of additional program titles, now that Akimbo titles are available to AT&T Homezone customers, offering them one of the industry's most robust selections of downloadable broadband-enabled content for television.
Awarded the 2007 North American Product of the Year by Frost & Sullivan, AT&T Homezone service integrates AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet, AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Home Networking services via a single set-top device.
Homezone customers can now view listings and manage and schedule recordings on the Homezone receiver via compatible wireless phones and devices from wireless carriers. This adds to previously available features, which allows Homezone customers to schedule and manage such recordings through a Web browser on their PCs and to trigger video-on-demand downloads, a future feature of wireless integration.
In addition to expanding ways to access the system remotely, AT&T has expanded its on-demand content library to include thousands of additional titles from Akimbo. This new content builds on AT&T's numerous alliances with content providers that enable access to movies, music and photos from the Homezone receiver. These alliances include Yahoo! (for LAUNCHcast music, Movie Showtimes, AT&T Yahoo! Photos) and Movielink (for movies on demand).
"When consumers think TV, we want them to think AT&T," said Rick Welday, chief marketing officer-AT&T Consumer, "and compelling features, like wireless remote access and thousands of downloadable titles, give us an entertainment service that goes beyond others on the market today."
Wireless Remote Access
Homezone customers can use the newly expanded wireless remote interface to interact with their in-home AT&T Homezone entertainment receiver through any Web Access Protocol 2.0-compliant cell phone or other hand-held device.
Homezone customers with compliant cell phones can access their Homezone system to view listings and to search and schedule recordings of video content. In the future, this functionality will expand to include remote access to photos, music and other system content. The new wireless feature is included in the monthly $9.99 price for Homezone service; although, customers may be charged by the carrier for online data usage, depending on their specific plan with their wireless carrier.
Akimbo
Homezone customers can now also view a comprehensive listing of Akimbo videos, movies and shows from an on-screen guide. To help subscribers find videos that match their interests, the on-screen guide features a video-search function, full program descriptions and video previews. Customers can also access the guide remotely from an Internet-connected computer to browse and download programs so that new shows are available for viewing when they get home.
To date, with more than 15,000 titles, Akimbo is the fastest-growing video-on-demand service in the United States, offering videos and movies from more than 165 content partners throughout the world. Each week, Akimbo adds more than 150 new mainstream and niche titles in 85 different categories, such as music, sports, independent film, anime, major motion pictures, education, children's programming and foreign language.
AT&T Homezone
With Homezone, which launched in fall 2006, AT&T became the first national telecommunications provider to offer seamlessly integrated video content and TV entertainment to the "digital living room," through both broadband and traditional satellite networks.
The service is available to new AT&T | DISH Network residential customers who either already have or plan to order AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet and the 2Wire® home- networking gateway. Customers can select from several broadband speeds and satellite TV packages and then purchase Homezone service for an additional $9.99 a month.
AT&T Homezone also complements AT&T U-verseSM services, the company's video service based on Internet Protocol (IP) technology, which is available in limited markets today. While AT&T U-verse services will be the company's primary video offer in available markets, both offerings underscore the company's strategy to expand its video services portfolio, which includes AT&T | DISH Network service.
AT&T Homezone is available today across the company's traditional 13-state broadband footprint. Future enhancements to the service will include a high- definition version of the receiver, as well as great new music and video content from content providers, like Yahoo!
Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company in the United States and around the world, with operating subsidiaries providing services under the AT&T brand. AT&T is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to businesses and the U.S. leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising through its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verseSM TV. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.
About Akimbo
Akimbo is the first company to deliver digital-quality video-on-demand to any television via a broadband-Internet connection. In 2006, the company was named to the OnHollywood 100 by AlwaysOn for its easy-to-use and affordable Internet video-on-demand service. As an aggregator of brand-name and specialty video content, Akimbo provides one of the worlds' largest collections of on-demand programming to companies including AT&T, Microsoft Corp., Sonic Solutions and Thomson Corp. Akimbo has offices in San Mateo, Calif. and is a privately held company funded by AT&T, Blueprint Ventures, Cisco Systems Inc., Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures. For more information, visit http://akimbo.com/.
About 2Wire
2Wire provides global telecom carriers with broadband services platforms that enable an integrated triple play of networked data, voice, and media services. 2Wire's award-winning products and services include residential gateways, broadband multimedia set top boxes, remote management systems, and call center customer support. 2Wire's customers include global DSL market leaders AT&T, TELMEX, BellSouth, BT, Embarq, SingTel, and others. For more information, visit http://2wire.com/.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) serves more than 13 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000. DISH Network's services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for more than 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at dishnetwork.com/ or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo!'s mission is to connect people to their passions, their communities, and the world's knowledge. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT:
Amanda L. Ray
AT&T
+1-214-665-1359
aray@attnews.us
Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://dishnetwork.com/
http://2wire.com/
http://akimbo.com/
