AT&T deepens wireless/wireline integration with new HomeManager offering: Samsung touchscreen powers service

In an effort to bolster its home phone service, AT&T Inc. unveiled its HomeManager service that integrates many of the telcom provider’s mobile features into a landline offering.
The HomeManager service relies on a Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.-provided seven-inch color touchscreen frame that allows access to Web-based features, including visual voicemail, weather reports and e-mail. Mobile integration is provided through a pair of mobile-phone applications that synch address books across the touchscreen device and home handset.
“HomeManager represents the next generation of home communications,” said Brian Shay, senior VP of converged services for AT&T. “We’re building on the reliability of our wireline platform and advancing it with touchscreens, mobile-phone applications, visual voicemail and more. A phone today is not just for talking – it’s about having the content and the information that’s important to you right at your fingertips.”
The new service is available to current and new AT&T high-speed Internet and wireline customers with a flat-fee of $300 for the device, though customers must sign a two-year contract for AT&T’s broadband service or sign up for its U-verse TV, broadband and voice services. The service comes with one cordless handset and one base station.
The HomeManager service will initially be available in Chicago; Atlanta; Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, Texas; San Francisco; San Diego; and Los Angeles.