AT&T TV Service: U-Verse
As the cable companies started moving into the home phone market, the phone companies have started moving into the television programming market. And some of them are bringing advanced features that give cable companies something to worry about. A good example is AT&T’s U-Verse which offers a number of advantages over traditional cable programming thanks to its more advanced technology.
Understanding U-Verse
Unlike traditional television programming which usually reaches your home through a network of copper wires, U-Verse operates on a system called FTTN (Fiber-to-the-Node). What makes this system different is that instead of the old-fashioned wiring that has been used for decades in telecommunications, the system is primarily made up of fiber optic connections.
Fiber optic wires are different. They really aren’t wires at all. Instead, they consist of bundles of thin glass strands. Information and data transfers are handled by laser-generated lights through the glass. There are many advantages to use fiber optics for television programming which will be discussed in the next section.
With FTTN technology, devices called cabinets are placed in neighborhoods where U-Verse is being rolled out. The fiber optic lines reach the cabinet. From the cabinet, traditional coaxial cables connect individual homes to the service. By using the FTTN approach instead of the FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) method Verizon has incorporated for FiOS, AT&T can roll out high quality television services faster and for less money because it does not have to use fiber optics to complete the connections to each home.
Advantages of Fiber Optics
Fiber optic connections have a number of benefits which make them ideal for the future of telecommunications and for television programming delivery.
First, these connections are going to be easier to maintain, at least up to the cabinet (also known as the node). Fiber optic cables are more resilient and resistant to weather conditions. They can also be monitored off-site so problems can be noticed before calls start pouring in from disgruntled customers. That will result in faster repairs and less interruptions in your television programming.
Second, the capacity of fiber optic cables is almost unlimited. That means they can not only be used to bring in advanced television services to your home but also faster Internet, higher quality voice services, and future services that can be added more easily.
The only downside is that rolling out fiber optic cables to provide U-Verse to homes is going to be slow and expensive for AT&T. Although a number of locations already have this service available, it may be a year or more before it becomes a widely available option.
Some Features of U-Verse
U-Verse programming currently offers more than 300 channels, all of which are completely digital, as well as 100 HD channels, which is a huge amount compared to what is available from other cable and telecommunication providers. Besides the number of channels available, many TV lovers are going to be thrilled by the picture-in-picture channel surfing and menu browsing options.
One of the real highlights of the U-Verse service is the DVR technology. While DVRs have become a common offering from cable programmers, none of the companies currently offering them can offer as much as the U-Verse DVR does.
Old DVRs could tape only one show at a time. With dual-tuner DVRs, you became able to tape two shows at the time. With U-Verse, you can tape up to four shows simultaneously. But that’s not the best part. For just $7 per month, you can add a U-Verse receiver to another television in your home (you can add up to 8). By adding the extra receivers, you give yourself the ability to watch anything you have recorded on any of the televisions in your home on any of the televisions with a receiver. That means you could tape a show in the living room and watch it later in the bedroom. You can also watch up to four different recorded shows on four different televisions in your home or watch the same show at the same time in different rooms of the house while still being able to rewind and pause independent of the other television.
With all of the increased functionality of the U-Verse DVR, it’s not surprising that it’s one of AT&T’s strongest selling points for the service. They are also promoting your ability to program your DVR remotely using your AT&T wireless phone or the Internet.
U-Verse TV Packages
Several different package options are available for U-Verse television programming. The $49 per month package (the lowest of the available choices) offers 70 channels which are geared towards a family. If you don’t need the family-focus, the same price will keep you 120 of the most popular channels. For $64, you can get up to 220 channels of programming. The next higher packages includes a Movie Package and up to 290 channels. At the top level, you can get all of the available digital channels, as well as 95 HD channels, multiple premium movie channels, and a Sports and a Movie Package.
Another option is the Latino Package which includes 240 channels and Paquete Español. Many of the channels and packages are also available a la carte, including the HD channels.
Bundles & Savings
One of the best parts of using AT&T’s U-Verse is that it comes in a wide range of bundle options if you are interested in trying out the company’s other services and saving money. Most of the choices available include voice, Internet, and U-Verse but wireless bundles may be available in some areas, too.
The convenience of this option is that you’ll have all of your services combined on a single bill, plus you’ll generally be able to save quite a bit of money. Plus, many of the bundles offer cash rebates and other discounts just for combining the services.
Also, AT&T U-Verse comes with free installation. The installation can take as long as six hours.
