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AT&T To Offer TV Over Phone Lines

Posted by Zonk on from the next-up-is-radio-via-peanut-butter dept.

ppadala writes "AT&T is upgrading their phone lines to offer video programmes over phone line. The service, called U-verse TV will be available in parts of Southern California communities initially. Channel lineups will be similar to traditional cable and dish offerings. AT&T is insisting that, 'This offering is on par with those of its cable rivals. But AT&T claims that it offers customers more for their money, including fast channel changing, video-on-demand, three set-top boxes, a digital video recorder, a picture-in-picture feature that allows viewers to surf channels without switching channels and an interactive program guide.'"

8 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. a momentary blip of anticipation by yagu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow, video (on demand and more) via the phone lines. I actually had a "moment" of anticipation, thinking I could maybe finally dump the miserable (Comcast) quality and service of our cable company. Then, the quote: "'This offering is on par with those of its cable rivals. "...

    Sigh.

    1. Re:a momentary blip of anticipation by iminplaya · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wow, video (on demand and more) via the phone lines.

      Yeah, I think I saw something like that at their exhibit at the Worlds Fair...in 1963!
      I guess they still haven't quite got all the bugs worked out.

      "The future is fun!
      The future is fair!
      You may already have won!
      You may already be there!
      Welcome to the future!"

      --
      What?
  2. Catching up with the rest of the world by KalElOfJorEl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gee, that sounds like what Europe and Japan seem to offer people at a fraction of the cost, except crappier and more expensive. Way to go AT&T! I love when telecoms are looking out for the consumer's best interest.
     
    /sarcasm off

  3. What an Innovation! by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Funny

    ADSL modem + private network + set-top box.

    Must have taken them months to independantly discover this combination.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  4. an upgrade? by hey · · Score: 3, Funny

    How is TV an upgrade over anything?
    American Icon, Survivor, etc!

  5. This is old news of a much-delayed release by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2, Funny

    AT&T is using Microsoft's trouble-laden IPTV software.

  6. That service has been here for ages by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hmm... video on demand, over a phone line, using "internet technology"... you're talking about bittorrent.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Re:Interesting by jcr · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft, which provides the software for AT&T u-verse

    Oh man, thanks for the tip. Some guy was going door-to-door in my neighborhood to sell this, and it sounded good at first. Now that I know it's from you guys, I'll pass.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."