AT&T calls SmartPhone the future

Article Abstract:

AT&T is developing its SmartPhone and encouraging mass distribution of the intelligent telephone computer system through the Bell Regional Holding Companies (BRHC), independent telephone companies and other service vendors. The SmartPhone provides an 'intelligent' computer terminal with a small display coupled with a telephone's usual features. AT&T expects to sell SmartPhones for between $200 and $300 to third-party vendors. The telephones are then to be leased to customers along with various networking and information services. AT&T hopes to begin testing of the service-telephone combination systems in 1992. Meanwhile, other vendors such as Northern Telecom are developing both intelligent and dumb terminal-telephone systems, some of which are less expensive. AT&T also faces regulatory questions regarding BRHCs distributing such services.

Computer-telephone integration, Computer telephony, Intelligent machines, Computer Systems, Intelligent Devices

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SmartPhone has milestone: first customer

Article Abstract:

Huntington Bancshares Inc is the first business to acquire AT&T SmartPhones to distribute to users of its home banking service. Huntington is expected to lease the telephones, which include 4-by-6.5-inch touch-screen displays and built-in modems, to customers for $6-$10 per month. The phones are backed up by network computer systems that allow users to select service options and read telephone listings from on-screen menus. AT&T hopes to continue its lead in the consumer telephone market with the SmartPhones, but it has had difficulty finding users for the product. Huntington plans to offer its home-banking services to all its 800,000 customers, but previous home-banking schemes have failed. Huntington officials say the SmartPhone makes a significant difference between its service and the other home-banking services currently available.

National commercial banks, Banking industry, Innovations, Purchasing, Product information, Equipment and supplies, Telecommunications equipment industry, Telephone, Telephony, Product introduction, Home banking, Huntington Bancshares Inc., HBAN, Home banking services, New Technique

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AT&T plans system for cable TV firms that would boost number of channels

Article Abstract:

AT and T unveils plans for suppling a vast number of channels to cable television companies via digital satellite communications. The plan involves partners such as ComStream Corp, News Corp and other established cable industry companies. AT and T's contribution to the project, aside from its marketing muscle, will be data compression technology that can increase the capacity of a satellite transponder by four to 18 times. The AT and T plan involves delivering a vast number of programs to local cable companies, from where they are transmitted to customers. The plan calls for issuing customers a new cable box that would support the new channel capacity as well as accepting some sort of credit card to pay for certain on-demand programs.

Electronic computers, Services, Internet services, Cable television, Satellite communications, The News Corporation Ltd., Data compression, Cable Television/Data Services, Market Entry, Service Merchandising, Pay Television, ComStream Corp.

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