AT&T Official CES Announcements: Androids, Applications, & Network Improvements
So here is the complete and official skinny, which is actually rather hefty, concerning AT&T’s CES announcements:
AT&T today announced its strategy to deliver the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience along with major device news at its annual Developer Summit in Las Vegas leading into CES. AT&T will deliver a true 4G experience with a combination of network, device and application advancements. The three components of today’s news include:
1. Network – AT&T already offers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network today and it’s getting faster with 4G:
· We’ve deployed HSPA+ to virtually 100% of our mobile broadband network today which enables 4G speeds when combined with backhaul.
· We’re rapidly expanding backhaul nationwide and we’re already seeing 4G speeds in parts of key markets. These areas are seeing network speeds of up to approximately 6Mbps.
· We’re accelerating our LTE network build, to be largely complete by year end 2013; AT&T plans to begin its launch of LTE service in mid 20112. Devices – We plan to launch two 4G smartphones, Motorola ATRIX 4G and HTC Inspire 4G, in the first quarter of this year and we expect to add 5-7 4G devices to our portfolio by the first half of this year (including the two 4G enabled laptop cards announced in 2010). By the end of 2011, we expect to have more than 20 4G devices. Today we’re also announcing a major commitment to offer an industry leading Android device portfolio. The first of these exclusive devices include:
· Motorola ATRIX 4G 2.2 Android smartphone – The world’s most powerful smartphone with a 1GHz dual-core processor, high-res qHD display and breakthrough accessories that include a super-thin laptop dock for which ATRIX 4G is the “engine.”
· HTC Inspire 4G – A 1GHz 2.2. Android smartphone with a 4.3 inch super LCD display, next-gen HTC Sense with cloud services, an 8-megapixel camera and HD video recorder.
· Samsung Infuse 4G – The thinnest AT&T 2.2 Android device with a 1.2 GHz Hummingbird processor and the largest Super AMOLED Plus screen at 4.5 inches.3. Applications – AT&T is investing $70 million with others to build three innovation centers in Dallas, Silicon Valley and near Tel Aviv to improve project cycle time by 3x. AT&T is also renewing its commitment to “Apps for All” by utilizing Brew Mobile Platform on all new Quick Messaging Phones, including the HTC Freestyle launching this February. Additionally, the company plans for a March Beta program for an HTML5 development toolkit for AT&T devices. Further application-related advancements are included in the full press release.
For further information or images, please visit: www.att.com/ces-news.
Also today, the company announced three enterprise applications now available on Android, its selection of MedApps, a wireless patient monitoring system developer, as a new service in its AT&T ForHealth portfolio, and the upcoming cloud-based location information services offer.
Additional pre-CES announcements from AT&T and its partners yesterday include: wireless Vitality GlowCaps are now available on Amazon for $10 per cap and $15 per month for AT&T service; the new Pandigital Novel 9-inch Android tablet and eReader with AT&T service built-in for $279.99; Garmin’s upcoming GTU 10 GPS locator and web-based personal and property tracker service delivered across AT&T’s wireless network; and AT&T’s agreement with BMW to wirelessly deliver an enhanced suite of safety and infotainment services to future BMW models. Also, Isabella Product’s Mini connected USB for photo sharing – makes any photo-frame into a Vizit.
We’ll be following up with hands-on throughout the course of CES so stay tuned!
[Via E-Mail]