Skip to Content

Reuters: AT&T planning to integrate iPhone with U-verse

Reuters is reporting that AT&T is planning to capitalize on their iPhone exclusivity in the US and link it with their broadband and video service U-verse. Eventually this could allow U-verse subscribers to listen to their iPhone voicemail on their TVs or download shows from their DVRs to their iPhones. And taking a page from Apple, they're also talking about a remote control application for the iPhone to control the DVR, etc.

I think this sounds like an interesting value-added addition for AT&T customers. The main problem is that U-verse just isn't that widely available. Would you switch to U-verse to get this kind of iPhone integration?

[via MacNN]

Categories

iPhone

Reuters is reporting that AT&T is planning to capitalize on their iPhone exclusivity in the US and link it with their broadband and...
 

Add a Comment

*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

26 Comments

Filter by:
Steve

I would be interested to see how AT&T would do this they would basically have to have a separate video player on the iPhone which has the ability to decode the VC-1/H.264 streams and that can interact with the STB to copy the encryption keys for the recording. Also it would have to be greatly down converted to s smaller file size before the iPhone would have enought storage and power to play the video. I don't know what would do all this conversion as the STB's don't have a whole lot of power either.

September 17 2008 at 2:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon Fields

I've only had uverse for about a week now and find the service to be decent so far. The DVR is the closest in features to Tivo that I've seen, and the service has been stable. I live in Edmond OK (suburb of Oklahoma City)

When I had tivo I used to rip shows off of it and strip the drm so that I could sync them with my ipod. I think it'd be cool to take shows off of my uverse dvr and be able to watch them anywhere using my iphone.

Just not sure how they'll lock this down tho. The DVR's run windowsce and use a flavor of microsoft's DRM

September 16 2008 at 7:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
FrisbeeGolfForiPhone

I guess I wont be finishing my iPhone DVR app then, since it will no doubt be rejected.

September 16 2008 at 7:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Icepick

I'm an iPhone (non-3G) user and have been generally happy -- its shortcomings not withstanding. (I'm waiting for the iPhone 3-G to iron out its bugs.) So, I'm generally happy with AT&T's mobile service, although reception at my house could be better.

At home, I've got VerizonFIOS -- drank the Kool-Aid last year and went for the entire package (unlimited domestic long distance, fiber optic HDTV with multi-HBOs, Showtime, Cinemax, etc. and 15 megabit Internet.) Figured I'd better try it since they dug a huge hole in my yard for the fiber-to-the-curb two years ago. Now I can control my DVR from any room. And the HD shows on-demand are stunning.

While Verizon is not perfect, it is an ENORMOUS improvement over the Earthlink DSL and crappy quality and service of TimeWarner cable I used to have. Not looking back - No regrets. Hell, I'd have done it just to stick it to those SOBs at TW.

So AT&T U-Verse has a very high bar to clear based upon my experience with Verizon FIOS. AT&T will need to deliver more than 100 HD channels, HD video on demand (free for content on HBO, Cinemax, etc.), faster internet than 15 megabit and a ton of value added services at a price cheaper than what I'm already getting.

I think they're kidding themselves if they believe that subscribers will make their television / entertainment / internet access / home phone decisions just because they happen to have an iPhone.

September 16 2008 at 6:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
phlavor

I wish I could get U-Verse at my house. In the heart of San Francisco and I have no choice but Comcast. I could knock $30 to $50 off my bill.

September 16 2008 at 6:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
grifmusic

I also tried u-verse early in the stage. They couldn't solve internet dropouts - they did 3 different installations - at one point 8 tech guys were at my house scratching their asses and their heads - I finally canceled it and they still tried to charge me - until a higher up got involved.

I would try them again if they got the kinks worked out, but honestly, the prices are nearly the same as Charter Cable, but offer slightly faster downloads.

I'm trying to talk the wife into just going digital HD antenna Elgato TVs on the Macs and rent movies instead of cable - so damned expensive.

And HBO and Cinemax show a lot of crap over and over again.

I would prefer Verizon fiber optic burning-fast internet but they don't go into ATT-territory!

I'm just happy that iPhone can now control our movie library via Front Row!!!

September 16 2008 at 6:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michaelsviews

ROFLMAO, AT&T is having a hard time with 3G and now this. OMG this is just too stupid. Better do a peepee test on the corporate execs.

Cant get the iPhone fixed, signals dropping up and down and all that 3G is in such a limited area.

WTF AT&T, you wont allow tethering on the iPhone and rape people on txt msg's

September 16 2008 at 5:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Al

Well, seeing as I already have U-verse service, and my wife already has an iPhone, I will be looking forward to any enhancements AT&T will make to either U-Verse and iPhone service.

September 16 2008 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

No, they will not get me to switch from my beloved DirecTV to a crummy cable service just so I can location-shift my shows from a 47" screen to a 4" screen.

September 16 2008 at 5:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick

It might be a possibility if AT&T manages to get DVR software that isn't pre-beta quality. Shows cutting out mid-recording, season passes that aren't, random crashes, and the _biggest_ one: the ability to have more than 1 DVR per home. I really wanted to like U-Verse when we tried it because the 5LNB dish we have for HD DirecTV support is far more weather influenced than the old 3LNB dish was, but the software just wasn't up to par.

September 16 2008 at 4:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.