SAN ANTONIO – U.S. telco AT&T and wireless video provider MobiTV announced an agreement this week to deliver mobile television content across AT&T’s nationwide Wi-Fi network.
The service will enable AT&T customers to view live television on their laptops or other devices while connected to one of AT&T’s Wi-Fi hot spots.
The MobiTV service on AT&T (formerly SBC) includes 15 channels spanning national news, sports, entertainment and full-length music videos from top artists. The deal helps further enhance one of the nation’s largest Wi-Fi networks by offering differentiated broadband-enabled content that consumers are increasingly demanding, say the two companies.
The service will be available this month at nearly 7,000 AT&T owned and operated Wi-Fi hot spots, which includes airports, coffee shops and book stores, with plans to expand to additional locations.
Each of Telus, Rogers and Bell offer MobiTV on certain handsets – and all three together offer WiFi hotspots across the country in over 1,000 locations, in such places like Second Cup outlets.
"Television viewing has moved beyond the TV set and we’re making it easier for consumers to get great entertainment through AT&T broadband services, including AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots," said Kieran Nolan, vice-president, AT&T Broadband. "This agreement helps enable compelling content for customers interested in a digital lifestyle."
"Having topped 1,000,000 subscribers and growing faster than ever, we’ve proved MobiTV’s technology, business model, and profitability on mobile networks across international markets on three continents," said Dr. Phillip Alvelda, chairman and chief executive officer for MobiTV. "Now, in partnership with AT&T, the nation’s leading DSL provider, we are proving that the MobiTV service can deliver premium quality content seamlessly across any of the latest broadband networks."
Users will have a basic channel line-up available through a monthly US$11.99 subscription or for each 24-hour session for US$5.99. Soon, additional premium television channels will be offered.
AT&T operates one of the nation’s largest Wi-Fi networks with connectivity available at nearly 11,000 hot spots nationwide.
