| 21st June - AT&T has announced the launch of AT&T
Video Share, the first-ever service in the U.S. that allows
users to share live video over their wireless devices while
participating in a voice call. AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall
Stephenson highlighted the service during the opening keynote
of the NXTcomm industry event.
Left shows the current AT&T 3G phones compatible with
Video Share.
Video Share allows users to communicate special or everyday
experiences in ways never before possible. Consumers can now
share moments with family and friends while the moments are
happening everything from weddings and a baby's first
steps to a Little League at-bat or a clearance-sale find.
The service also enables a range of innovative, time-saving
business applications, from viewing real estate or retail
displays to facilitating insurance claims or troubleshooting
efforts.
"Even in today's fast-changing environment, it's rare
to see a new service that truly redefines the possibilities
of communication," Stephenson said. "AT&T Video
Share is just that sort of service. Users now have the ability
to show others exactly what they see, when they're seeing
it, and to share that experience across town or across the
country."
Video Share is now available in three initial U.S. markets:
Atlanta, Dallas and San Antonio. Service availability will
then expand in late July throughout the company's 3G wireless
network footprint, which covers more than 160 U.S. markets
today. The service works exclusively over the AT&T 3G
wireless network.
A Video Share-capable handset is required and two Video Share
service packages will be available, with prices of $4.99 each
month for 25 minutes of Video Share usage, or $9.99 each month
for 60 minutes of usage. Users may also choose to pay as they
go and pay 35 cents a minute each time they use the service.
(See AT&T Video Share fact sheet for additional details
on specific market availability, compatible handsets and service
package details.)
Video Share enables one-way, live streaming video feeds,
which can be seen by both users while they are participating
in a two-way voice conversation. Once users have initiated
a Video Share call, either party can be the one generating
the video stream for the other to see.
AT&T research has shown strong customer interest in Video
Share for a range of uses, including:
Sharing. Consumers can share moments with family and friends
as the moments happen.
Providing a Sense of "Being There." Consumers or
business contacts can be in one place while seeing and hearing
what is happening in another.
Getting/Giving Advice. Consumers or business contacts can
seek advice or quick decisions by sharing a video and audio
of a given scenario.
Powered by New-Generation IMS Network Technology
Video Share is the first AT&T service to be delivered
on the company's new-generation network platform, which is
based on Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology.
This new platform will be used to deliver a range of new Internet
Protocol (IP)-based services and applications and will increasingly
enable AT&T customers to seamlessly access services and
content over both wireless and wireline network connections.
Ultimately, services such as Video Share will be accessible
over any of the three primary screens that customers use most
frequently the wireless device, the PC and the television.
Today AT&T Labs researchers are perfecting service enhancements
that eventually will enable wireless video feeds to be shared
over IPTV or PC screens.
"Video Share is groundbreaking today as a wireless-to-wireless
service, but the potential for the service will expand even
further in the near future," Stephenson said. "Imagine
watching television when a notice pops on the screen that
a daughter or granddaughter would like to initiate a Video
Share call, then immediately switching the television screen
to accept the video and audio. With our powerful IP-based
network and flexible IMS platform, these scenarios will eventually
be reality."
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