Next year for AT&T will be all about more. We expect more services, more coverage for the high-speed network and many more devices. Mostly, this will be more of the same, but AT&T is holding more than a couple aces at the moment, so more is probably all the network needs
Service with a smile
For services, of course we'll see more phones with AT&T's video share, along with a larger, albeit quiet, rollout of the service. Still, we can't help but think that video conferencing is all but inevitable. AT&T seems to have phones in place that can handle the service, so we're wondering what is the holdup on bringing it to market. Certainly, the lack of popularity for video share devices can't be an indicator. Video Share on AT&T is a much different animal, much less interesting and personal, than video calling.
We also expect to see some sort of mobile televison launch on AT&T in the next yer. Based on the same technology as Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV, AT&T should have a MediaFLO network up and running in 2008. Again, we wonder if the launch will be as soft as the launch of Video Share, and as quiet as the V Cast TV launch on Verizon Wireles. Of course, we understand why carriers might be low-key about publicizing the nascent technology, but there must be a better way to showcase the network's capabilities than to keep the most impressive services under wraps.
There is no fear in this dojo
This is what we'd like to see from AT&T this year, more showcasing. AT&T has, potentially, the fastest network, for both downloads and uploads with recent HSUPA upgrades in New York City. Thanks to GSM's wide availability, AT&T also has an opportunity to bring some very cool phones from the European market to the U.S. Take the most obvious example, the Nokia N95. That phone surfs AT&T's high-speed networks and sells unlocked for $600 or more. And no customer who owns an N95 needs to sign a contract, since they aren't receiving the benefit of carrier subsidies.
Why not sell the device through the carrier at a subsidy discount? Why not sell a whole slew of cool devices at the high end of the popular European manufacturer's range. Sony Ericsson has plenty of interesting 3G devices that never make it here, though AT&T sells some fine Sony Ericsson phones. Same with Nokia. AT&T should embrace these phones, not because of the demand for them, which may admittedly be low, but because they showcase the power of AT&T's network. As Sprint is just starting to wake up its WiMAX Xohm network, and Verizon Wirless is starting to rumble about 4G plans, AT&T should assert its current market dominance. Especially before T-Mobile flicks the switch on its 3G network, which could be some time this year.
And, while you're at it . . .
Oh, and more iPhones. Lots more iPhones. And don't be afraid to push Steve Jobs around a little bit. When the MediaFLO network rolls out, let's get it on the iPhone, along with HSDPA. And TeleNav, with GPS. Video Share, too, but maybe with Video Calling instead, real two-way stuff.
See, there are so many possibilities already on AT&T's network, it's a shame they aren't being put to the best use. In the year ahead, we'd like to see AT&T come into its own.
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