Cable Technology Feature Article
December 16, 2008
Congratulations AT&T, U-verse Reaches One Millionth Subscriber
By Jessica Kostek, TMCnet Channel Editor
When AT&T (News - Alert) introduced U-verse they not only brought competition to some areas but also helped customers make the change from analog to digital. AT&T had send out hundreds of employees across the nation in hopes that word of mouth coupled with door to door sales would increase the unknown cable option the company had.
Seems like all the time and effort paid off. Today, AT&T announced that AT&T U-verse TV has reached its one millionth customers. The subscriber milestone comes less than two and a half years after AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets introduced the only 100-percent Internet Protocol (IP) TV service offered by a national service provider.
“Reaching this milestone, in this short time period, further validates our video strategy and shows that we're providing customers with a better choice and a better experience than cable," said Ralph de la Vega, chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We're using our all-IP U-verse platform and our wireless assets to give customers what they want, in a way that no one else can."
IP technology intergrades across TV, broadband, wireless and home phone. AT&T U-verse TV ranked "Highest in Residential Television Service Satisfaction in the North Central, South, and West Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study.
Industry analyst group Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) named AT&T U-verse the 2009 North American Consumer Communications Service Product of the Year, and U-verse Total Home DVR was recognized with a 2008 TelcoTV Vision Award for Service Provider Innovation.
AT&T U-verse TV has been deployed in 79 major markets across 16 states customers enjoy quadruple-play integration, enhanced features and greater value, all made possible by IP technology. IP technology allows AT&T U-verse to easily and constantly evolve with new features and services to match consumer needs. In 2008, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets introduced several U-verse TV enhancements to its subscriber base that helped customer growth and satisfaction.
U-verse TV features includes:
- Total Home DVR, which lets you watch recorded High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition shows from a single DVR on any connected TV in the home.
- An extensive channel lineup, including more than 85 HD channels and several international channels.
- The ability to record up to four programs at once and schedule recordings from a PC or wireless device.
- YELLOWPAGES.COM TV, for fast and easy searches to find local businesses and other information via your TV screen.
- AT&T U-bar, which brings customizable weather, stock, sports and traffic information to the U-verse TV screen, without interrupting the current program.
- AT&T Online Photos from Flickr, which allows AT&T High Speed Internet customers to browse the photos you've uploaded to flickr.com and watch slide shows on your U-verse TV screen from the comfort of your couch.
- Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football, which allows you to track the progress of your fantasy team -- including current team matchups and league standings -- directly from your TV screen through the AT&T U-bar.
- AT&T Yahoo! Games, so you can play your favorite online games --including Sudoku, Solitaire, JT's Blocks, Mah-jongg Tiles and Chess on the TV screen.
- An expanded Video On Demand (VOD) library, including HD VOD titles and more than 1,000 full-length movies.
- The ability to watch and record up to two HD programs at once.
“We will continue evolving AT&T U-verse, expanding availability and adding more applications and integrated features that improve what our customers can do not only with their TV, but across the three screens," said de la Vega.
Jessica Kostek is a channel editor for TMCnet, covering VoIP, CRM, call center and wireless technologies. To read more of Jessica’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jessica Kostek
