AT&T to Offer Leading Portfolio of Windows Phones

DALLAS and REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* and Microsoft Corp. today introduced a leading portfolio of new phones based on Windows Phone 7 , Microsoft's new mobile operating system that that has been the focus of worldwide buzz and bandwidth for months. The new smartphones from HTC, LG and Samsung will be available exclusively for AT&T customers ahead of the holiday shopping season.

"These devices - quite literally - are game changers, and we are delighted to bring them to our customers," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "It's a perfect match - phones that re-define gaming and entertainment, riding a network that assures customers a high-speed experience."

"AT&T has long been a leader in the smartphone market, and we're pleased that the powerful, new experiences in Windows Phone 7 will debut on a very fast and reliable mobile broadband network," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. "With Windows Phone 7, Microsoft has taken the most engaging and useful experiences across the company and delivered them in a single point of focus and value for customers nationwide."

Each of the three smartphones sports a capacitive glass touch screen, 5-megapixel camera and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, but is designed to appeal to different types of customers. The new Windows Phones for AT&T customers are:

• HTC Surround - premiers as the first smartphone to include integrated Dolby Mobile and SRS surround sound speakers. The HTC Surround speakers slide-out and reveal a kickstand for watching video beneath its 3.8-inch touch screen. HTC Surround blurs the line between home and mobile entertainment, making games, music and video on the go more enjoyable than ever.
• LG Quantum(TM) - designed for work, play and everything in between. With a slide-out keyboard for quick use of Office Mobile®, users can stay active and up to date with work. The LG Quantum also features DLNA technology through a preloaded application called Play To, which allows users to wirelessly stream videos, music, and pictures from the phone to a DLNA-enabled TV, stereo, Windows 7 PC and other consumer electronics devices
• Samsung Focus(TM) - debuts as AT&T's thinnest Windows Phone and offers a visually stunning experience with a Super AMOLED(TM) screen on a sleek 9.9 mm-thin touch screen phone. With the Focus'(TM) amazingly crisp, brilliant screen, photos, games and videos come alive.

Windows Phone 7 has been carefully crafted to help people get more done in fewer steps by bringing important information to the surface with a unique Hub and Tile interface. The Hubs offer quick and easy access to a person's latest and most valuable information and includes People, Pictures, Games, Music & Video, Office and Marketplace content. Windows Phone 7 also integrates with many popular and powerful Microsoft consumer services such as Xbox LIVE®, Windows Live®, Bing® and Zune®.

Apps and Entertainment

Each new Windows Phone from AT&T will include AT&T U-verse Mobile, an app that allows users to download and watch hit shows on their smartphone. U-verse TV subscribers with certain packages will be able to download and watch hit TV shows for no extra charge, and all U-verse TV customers can also schedule and manage their DVR recordings from the app. For the first time, U-verse Mobile will be available nationwide -- even to those who are not U-verse TV customers -- for just $9.99 per month. Subscribers can access the full content library, select which series or specific episode to download over Wi-Fi, and view on the go wherever they have their Windows Phone.

AT&T my Wireless Mobile App Available for BlackBerry

On BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve devices

Mobile phone carrier AT&T announced on Thursday the expanded availability of its AT&T myWireless Mobile application, which is now compatible with the BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve customers. The software solution enables users of such a device to easily manage family and individual accounts directly from their smartphone, the carrier notes.
According to AT&T, the mobile app edition is meant to offer greater ease and simplicity when wireless account management is involved. Among the features of the AT&T myWireless Mobile application we can count Bill Payment, enabling users to pay their bill directly from their phone; Voice and Data Usage, which offers them the possibility to view usage for minutes, data and messaging; and Features, through which one can add or remove features, such as new texting plans and more, all straight from the mobile phone.

Those interested in downloading the application will find it available at www.att.com/mybb, which can be accessed from the browser on their BlackBerry handsets. Those who would like to learn more details on the software solution should find an interactive video plus additional information at www.att.com/mybbmobile. Users will have to own a myWireless account to benefit from the application's features, the carrier notes, adding that they can create an account on the wireless carrier's website here.

The AT&T MyWireless Mobile app, now available for BlackBerry devices too, is compatible with the following smartphones from Research In Motion: BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9000, Blackberry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Curve 8520, BlackBerry Curve 8320, and BlackBerry Curve 8310. Moreover, it should also be noted that the application is available for download for free, and that the BlackBerry smartphones need to run under the 4.3 operating system or above.

AT&T is a leading provider of services in the US and around the world, including wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services, and the expanded availability of its AT&T myWireless Mobile application to BlackBerry devices is meant to demonstrate its leadership in the wireless market.