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AT&T Takes U-verse TV To Windows Phone 7AT&T Takes U-verse TV To Windows Phone 7
Internet television service, already available on the iPhone, is also coming to Xbox 360.
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Microsoft's Windows 7 Revealed
AT&T will make its U-verse Internet television service available through Microsoft's Xbox 360 and smartphones running the software maker's Windows Phone 7 platform.
The carrier said Monday that U-verse would be available on the Xbox 360 video game console starting Oct. 15. Windows Phone 7 users will be able to access the service starting in November.
AT&T said it would preload the U-verse mobile app in Windows Phone 7-based smartphones it sells. People will be able to access the service whether or not they subscribe to U-verse on their home TV.
In August, AT&T made it possible for people using the Apple iPhone to download and watch TV shows through U-verse. The latest expansion reflects the carrier's strategy of offering U-verse on as many devices as possible, beyond just the home TV.
"Our IPTV strategy is putting AT&T at the forefront by delivering U-verse content where you want it," David Christopher, chief marketing officer for AT&T mobility and consumer markets, said in a statement.
Xbox 360 users will be able to switch from games to U-verse seamlessly, and will also be able to receive chat and game invitations while watching TV shows, according to AT&T. Other features will include the ability to manage and play back DVR recordings and access interactive apps, the U-verse program guide, and on-demand video library.
The Xbox 360 U-verse kit will cost $99, plus a monthly subscription. An AT&T U-verse technician will have to install the service's software on the console.
Like the iPhone app, the U-verse Windows Phone 7 software will enable people to download and watch TV shows on their smartphones. A Wi-Fi connection is needed for the downloads. The service will cost $9.99 per month.
AT&T announced the latest smartphone service the same day Microsoft formally introduced Windows Phone 7, which is scheduled to make its debut Nov. 8 in the United States. The first smartphones to run the platform will include the HTC Surround and HD7, the Samsung Focus, the LG Quantum, and the Dell Venue Pro.
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