AT&T Plus Dish & AT&T Picks Ohio 1st

Poke

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http://att.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=22403

AT&T Selects Ohio as First State to Receive Homezone's Integrated Television and Broadband Services


New Service Combines AT&T | DISH Network and AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet Services, Offers Internet-Based Video on Demand, Music on Demand, Digital Photo-Sharing and Remote Access

San Antonio, Texas, July 19, 2006

Say goodbye to the entertainment divide between the TV and PC — and hello to the digital living room. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today the launch of AT&T Homezone, a groundbreaking new service that integrates AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet, AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Home Networking services via a single device.

The new AT&T Homezone service provides Internet-based video with satellite TV programming in a seamless in-home experience, giving consumers a powerful new way to extend the best of the Internet beyond the desktop to bring entertainment content to their TV screens and stereos. It features digital video recording, movies on demand, photo- and music-sharing, storage for both, and whets the anytime/anywhere generation's appetite with remote, Web-based access to the system.

With this service, AT&T becomes the first major U.S. telecommunications provider to offer seamlessly integrated video content and TV entertainment to the "digital living room" through both broadband and traditional satellite networks. AT&T Homezone is available in the company's broadband footprint throughout the state of Ohio — and in San Antonio. AT&T plans to roll out Homezone in additional markets in the AT&T service area where AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet access is available in the coming months.

AT&T Homezone 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, then purchase Homezone service for an additional $9.99 a month.

AT&T Homezone complements AT&T U-verse services, the company's premier video service based on IP technology, which recently became more widely available in San Antonio and will be available in additional markets by year-end. 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 combines the entertainment that consumers want most, including TV programming, video on demand, and Internet content and services, in a way that goes well beyond anything our competitors offer today," said Rick Welday, chief marketing officer, AT&T Consumer. "This new service underscores the company's strategy to integrate the three screens that many consumers value most today: the TV, PC and cell phone."

AT&T Homezone Features
In addition to accessing video content, AT&T Homezone customers will be able to access a range of Yahoo!-provided services: They will be able to view pictures from their AT&T Yahoo! Photos account; listen to AT&T Yahoo! LAUNCHcast radio (including their customized station); access movie show times and reviews from AT&T Yahoo! Movies; and, with AT&T Yahoo! Web Remote, they will be able to schedule and manage DVR recordings through a Web browser on their PCs.

The Homezone receiver at the heart of the service was developed for AT&T by 2Wire and already has been recognized as an Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Showcase honoree in the Home Data Networking category by the Consumer Electronics Association. It integrates entertainment content wirelessly, sharing data with a 2Wire home networking gateway that communicates with the AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet connection. This in-home integration drives content for movies on-demand — or music and photos from the PC and AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet portal — all to the TV.

Future enhancements to the Homezone product will include a High Definition version of the receiver, as well as great new music and video content from content providers Yahoo! and Akimbo. And customers will be able to eventually program their DVR and use other "remote access" features through their Cingular wireless phone.
 
Here is more info off of http://dailywireless.org/

AT&T/Echostar VOD
Wednesday, 2006 July 19 @ 09:12:37 PDT by Sam Churchill (42 reads)

AT&T is launching a satellite TV set-top box Wednesday that also connects to the Internet for movie downloads, reinforcing the phone company's push into video services, reports Light Reading.

The box, called AT&T Homezone, combines satellite TV programming from EchoStar with DSL service for video downloads. It will be initially available in Ohio and San Antonio to new customers of the cobranded AT&T-Dish Network satellite TV service. It will cost $9.99 a month in addition to Internet and satellite service fees.


AT&T plans to expand the service area in coming months, positioning Homezone as an alternative for those who can't yet receive its premier service, U-Verse, which transmits video over phone lines. AT&T launched U-Verse service in parts of San Antonio, where the company is based, earlier this summer. It is upgrading its infrastructure to provide the service elsewhere.

The box contains a TiVo-like digital video recorder that records the satellite TV signal on a hard drive. Recordings also can be scheduled remotely via a Web site.

Homezone also downloads movies on demand through from the Internet-based Movielink service for additional fees -- $4.99 for new releases. AT&T expects to add support for the video-on-demand service Akimbo in the future.

The video is in standard definition, but AT&T said it plans to introduce a high-definition version of Homezone. The box is made by 2Wire, a San Jose, Calif., company that also makes a gateway for AT&T.

AT&T, BellSouth, Qwest and Verizon are all trying to make video, more universally available. All four companies, to various degrees, testing broadband wireless, fiber and copper solutions.


Telco Broadband Initiatives

AT&T Project Lightspeed 18 million homes by 2008, 3 million this year, 9 million in 2007 Homezone combines DSL, DISH satellite available 2Q 2006

BellSouth Fiber to the curb WiMAX broadband wireless, ADSL 2+

Verizon FiOS reaching 3 million homes per year to 15 million to 20 million by 2009 DSL extensions Fixed wireless trials

Qwest Qwest ChoiceTV over VDSL to limited communities in Arizona and Colorado,
HFC network in Omaha No specific plans announced

All four companies are doing FTTH in green-field developments.

Project Lightspeed is the SBC initiative to expand its fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods. That delivers AT&T's U-verse TV, voice and high-speed Internet access services.

A variety of service plans are available from $69/month - $114/month. U-verse includes 200 channels of IPTV, Spanish-language programming, video-on-demand, and an interactive program guide. Features exclusive to IPTV include faster channel-changes, a mosaic approach to picture-in-picture displays, and content searches via keywords such as actor names.

SBC's Project Lightspeed uses VDSL-2, to reach the overwhelming majority of their homes. They deliver fiber to the neighborhood, but twisted pair copper to the home.
SBC uses Alcatel gear for the fiber backbone. It consists of IP routers, the 7750, the Ethernet switches, the 7450, the remote DSLAM, the 7330. Microsoft's IPTV software is used for the settop box.

Verizon’s FiOS (Fiber Internet Service) does not use DSL. It brings fiber directly to the home. For in-home distribution it uses twisted pair (for voice) and coax (for video). FiOS TV uses digital cable boxes rather than IP-TV. Fios Internet Service requires CAT5 or higher grade wiring. It will deliver 5 Mbps ($39/mo) to 30 Mbps ($199/mo). When installing Fios, Verizon tears out your twisted pair.

Related DailyWireless stories include; SBC Picks IP-TV Settops, Cuban: Broadcasting Not Dead, GoogleNet?, The Free Triple Play, VDSL-2 Ratified, IPTV: Is It Soup Yet?, IP-TV Settops, Legislators: Don't Mess With SBC, DirecTV + WiMax?, Muni Wireless Laws, Duopoly Laws, Mobile TV Expands, Verizon Does Cellular TV, Video Search, Big Media Mobilizes, U.S. Gets MobileTV via DVB-H, Samsung's Video over DSL, The Man Who Invented Television, The Smartest Guy in the Room, and Unlicensed Spectrum: The Sum of All Fears.

Thats big them bringing in fiber to home (FTTH). But overall sounds like Dish is going to be in on this.
 
Hmm the HomeZone might not be bad as long as I can keep my Dish service! I don’t want my TV service running across my net connection due to if it goes down it will affect everything. Its best to keep things separate and not all tied in together where it could affect multiple things. Just because some fool or your local city digs a hole some where and cuts your connection. I don’t want it taking down my TV service also just maybe my net. Anyway just my 2cents but is sounds like overall AT&T is going to let folks use the 2wire box for net but also use it with their current Dish setup. The box is MPEG4 so you should be able to get all of the current Dish HD programming with it.
 
Here is AT&T IPTV Box!

http://www.sbc.com/gen/u-verse?pid=7877&cdvn=custom

Control of your TV programming is in your hands...

UvR2_receiver.jpg


AT&T U-verse TV
Welcome to the evolution of TV programming. On-demand and digitally delivered television. Enjoy a crystal-clear picture along with a digital video recorder (DVR), video-on-demand, and choice programming—all at a competitive price.

Enjoy the freedom of digital video recording. Get the power to pause, rewind, replay, and record live TV. Determine your own instant replays, pause your TV show while you refill your popcorn, or go out to dinner with your family while your favorite movie is being recorded.


Features:
DVR includes 80 gigabyte hard drive, allows recording of up to 80 hours of programs.
Access to your video-on-demand library at anytime
On-screen program guide with 14-day look ahead
On-screen parental control


User Guides (PDF format*):
Using the Remote Control
Navigating U-verse TV
Ordering U-verse video on demand
Searching for Programs
Controlling Live TV
Recording TV Programs
Changing your Settings
Managing your TV Receiver

Overall this migt be good for some folks who want to run everything across their broadband connection. With doing FTTH it should not be a problem but overall I still think Dish will be able to offer more HD. In the future that could change on this but not anytime soon plus I dont think AT&T will have rights to VOOM channels.
 
AT&T U-verse TV Packages
Compare packages

U200
Basic package—over 100 channels with sports, entertainment, and more.
Learn More

U300
Better than basic—over 150 channels including The Movie Package.
Learn More

U400Your best entertainment value—over 175 channels including HBO and Cinemax.
Learn More

Build your own package
U-verse Services
AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet U-verse Enabled
Surf the Web, stream audio and video, and play online games with unparalleled high-speed Internet access.
Learn More

AT&T U-verse TV
Innovative television home entertainment including a U-verse DVR and extensive program package options.
Learn More
 
U200 with AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Express


Enjoy more than 100 channels included in our basic package-starting at just $69 per month.* The service price includes up to 3 receivers, one with a digital video recorder (DVR).

Your service also includes AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Express package with wireless home networking, great for watching streaming videos online as well as storing and sharing photos. Upgrade to High Speed Internet Pro or Elite packages for even faster connections.

Now through July 31...
Get 3 months free TV & high-speed Internet as low as $10/mo. Thereafter, you'll continue to receive recurring monthly discounts on your all-inclusive AT&T U-verse service. You'll also receive a professional installation for just $20 when you sign up now.

Add any of the following packages for just pennies more a day:
HBO Package - $14 per month - 9 HBO channels
Cinemax Package - $14 per month - 9 Cinemax channels
Movie Package - $15 per month - This package has more than 30 channels of SHOWTIME, The Movie Channel, FLIX, Starz, and Encore, all at great savings.
Sports Package - $10 per month - The Sports Package includes college sports plus The Sportsman Channel, GolTV (English), HorseRacing TV, and much more.
Spanish Package - $5 per month - Spanish-language package featuring novellas, movies, news, sports, children's programming, talk shows, and more.**

U300 with AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Express

Starting at just $89 per month,* you can get over 150 channels including the Movie Package (This package has more than 30 channels of SHOWTIME, The Movie Channel, FLIX, Starz, and Encore). Service price includes up to 3 receivers, one with a DVR.

The service also includes AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Express package with wireless home networking. Perfect for downloading music and videos. Upgrade to High Speed Internet Pro package for an even faster connection.

Now through July 31...
Get 3 months free TV & high-speed Internet as low as $10/mo. Thereafter, you'll continue to receive recurring monthly discounts on your all-inclusive AT&T U-verse service. You'll also receive a professional installation for just $20 when you sign up now.

Add any of the following packages for just pennies more a day:
HBO Package - $14 per month - 9 HBO channels
Cinemax Package - $14 per month - 9 Cinemax channels
Sports Package - $10 per month - The Sports Package includes college sports plus The Sportsman Channel, GolTV (English), HorseRacing TV, and much more.
Spanish Package - $5 per month - Spanish-language package featuring novellas, movies, news, sports, children's programming, talk shows, and more.**



U400 with AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Pro

Starting at $114 per month,* you get more than 175 channels including the Movie Package (This package has more than 30 channels of SHOWTIME, The Movie Channel, FLIX, Starz, and Encore). Service price includes up to 3 receivers, one with a digital video recorder (DVR).

Your service also includes AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Pro package with wireless home networking. Perfect for downloading music and videos!

Now through July 31...
Get 3 months free TV & high-speed Internet as low as $10/mo. Thereafter, you'll continue to receive recurring monthly discounts on your all-inclusive AT&T U-verse service. You'll also receive a professional installation for just $20 when you sign up now.

Also, add the Spanish Package- featuring novellas, movies, news, sports, children's programming, talk shows, and more—for just $5 more per month.**
 
Overall if I was going to change I would go with the 2wire box still want my TV Service from Dish. Their most likey will be HD channels the that IPTV will not get for awhile. Plus their is more things that can go wrong when trying to push all this video across your net connection.

Here is the HomePage for AT&T U-Verse

http://www.sbc.com/gen/u-verse?pid=7871&cdvn=custom
 
http://www.akimbo.com/press_rel_041806.html

AT&T Homezone TV Service to Feature On-Demand Video Content From Akimbo.

SAN ANTONIO, SAN MATEO, Calif., April 18, 2006 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Akimbo™ Systems today announced an agreement to offer the award-winning Internet-based Akimbo video-on-demand service to subscribers of AT&T’s Homezone™ TV service, scheduled to launch later this summer. AT&T Homezone subscribers will use their converged set-top boxes to access thousands of video programs and movies.

AT&T Homezone, currently in trial in several states, will integrate AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet and AT&T | DISH Network programming to provide video on demand, digital video recording, and Internet content, including photos and music, via a new award-winning set-top box. AT&T Homezone will be available to customers who purchase both AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet services.

AT&T plans to offer the content available from Akimbo’s library of more than 10,000 television programs and movies-on-demand. 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.

The service will have an online guide that enables AT&T Homezone subscribers to view a comprehensive listing of all Akimbo videos and movies. 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.

“Our agreement with Akimbo is yet another milestone as we prepare to launch our AT&T Homezone service – an entertainment service that we believe will be more powerful and compelling than anything offered on the market today,” said Scott Helbing, chief marketing officer-AT&T Consumer. “Consumers want better solutions and more choices for entertainment, and we’re committed to delivering that.”

"AT&T’s innovations are legendary, and the Homezone service follows this tradition," said Joshua Goldman, CEO of Akimbo Systems. "As the first Internet video-on-demand service for TV, Akimbo is delighted to work with AT&T on its groundbreaking Homezone initiative to bring people the best in communications and entertainment, wherever they may be."

AT&T is the nation’s largest telecommunications provider. With more than 7 million high speed Internet lines in service, AT&T is also the nation’s largest DSL provider. The agreement with Akimbo focuses on maximizing AT&T’s industry-leading high speed DSL customer base and offering differentiated services that consumers increasingly demand.
 
Is it just me or does the idea of AT&T Yahoo! (Formerly SBC Yahoo!... formerly Prodigy Internet) make anybody else wary of the whole thing?

Sounds like a bunch of fancy gear and technology designed for one purpose, to expose you to advertisements and make you spend money.

Looking at it that way, just like everything else on TV. :D
 
AT&T HomeZone equipment

Can anyone out there tell me which set top boxes ATT is using for the Homezone offering?
 
They are using a 2-Wire box

surf said:
Can anyone out there tell me which set top boxes ATT is using for the Homezone offering?

They are using a box made by 2-Wire, see http://www.2wire.com/?p=11

Alhough they will offer a SD and HD version, only the SD version is available now. I am getting mine installed this Tuesday, cross your fingers that the install goes well :)
 

DVR upgrade?

Thoughts on the Pocket Dish AV402E

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