AT&T: Vu'ing TV on Your Cell Phone

High-speed service and devices are highly habit-forming.
By Gary Krakow ,

AT&T

(ATT)

has just announced its high-speed, mobile TV service -- and two phones that let you watch.

I've had a chance to check it out -- and I'm addicted.

Mobile TV currently consists of 12 streaming TV channels offering a mix of live TV shows, reruns of popular prime-time favorites, concerts, sports, and even a film or two. Channels like CBS Mobile, NBC2Go and NBCNews2Go, Fox Mobile, CNN Mobile, MTV, Nickelodeon, ESPN Mobile TV, Comedy Central, Pix (movies), Preview (what's on) and Concert (to provide music specials) provide quite an array of programming.

As for the phones, there are two that receive the service: the Samsung Access ($200 with a two-year contract and after a $100 main-in rebate) and the LG Vu ($300 with a two-year contract and after that $100 mail-in rebate). I got to play with the Vu.

The Vu is the first cousin of the super-exclusive LG Prada phone -- only available overseas. The U.S. version is a quad-band, GSM world phone which a super-speedy, 3G, HSDPA data system. AT&T claims its high-speed network is now available in 58 markets across the country.

The handset is small, sleek and sexy with a surprisingly large touch screen (it takes up almost the entire front panel). It allows you to control everything at a feather-light touch. A clever vibrating feature that gives you immediate feedback whenever you press an on-screen "button."

AT&T Streaming TV's Lookin' Good

var config = new Array(); config<BRACKET>"videoId"</BRACKET> = 1533029219; config<BRACKET>"playerTag"</BRACKET> = "TSCM Embedded Video Player"; config<BRACKET>"autoStart"</BRACKET> = false; config<BRACKET>"preloadBackColor"</BRACKET> = "#FFFFFF"; config<BRACKET>"useOverlayMenu"</BRACKET> = "false"; config<BRACKET>"width"</BRACKET> = 265; config<BRACKET>"height"</BRACKET> = 255; config<BRACKET>"playerId"</BRACKET> = 1243645856; createExperience(config, 8);

There's also a two-megapixel camera (stills and videos), Bluetooth, POP and IMAP email, your choice of instant messaging, Web browsing, games, music downloads (you can store on options microSD cards up to 4GB), an alarm clock, calculator, calendar, address book and much, much more.

But, the super-hot feature on this phone is the streaming TV. You extend the tiny TV antenna (like a single rabbit ear) -- press the TV button -- and you're on your way.

Mobile TV works well. I've tried it indoors and out, uptown and downtown Manhattan and it's absolutely great. I wouldn't recommend trying to watch for long outdoors -- especially when it's sunny. But, indoors it's perfect. Audio and video are received simultaneously and picture quality is better than I imagined it could ever be.

Last night, I took the Vu to bed -- and had my choice of live feeds of David Letterman, Jay Leno, CNN, a movie, ESPN sports roundups and lots more. I woke up and checked out where in the world Matt Lauer was (the Seychelle Islands). Don't worry if you miss something -- live shows are usually repeated throughout the day.

Once you get started it's hard to stop. Unless, of course, the battery needs recharging. I got almost two hours of TV viewing before I was told I needed to zap the phone's battery.

AT&T's Mobile TV ain't free. The monthly fees run $13 or $15 per month depending on the number of channels. That's on top of your other monthly cell phone charges.

In my tests, I found only one item I feel is missing -- a TV stand. It would be great to be able to put the Vu down and be able to continue watching with the phone on your desk -- or next to your bed. If it isn't an option, it should be.

To sum it up -- once you try watching TV on the Vu - you'll be hooked. It really is habit-forming.

One last thought: what would happen if the rumored, 3G iPhone-2 was able to tap into AT&T's 3G network and offer Mobile TV? I shudder to think what might happen!

Gary Krakow is TheStreet.com's senior technology correspondent.

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