AT&T integrates social media apps with U-verse TV service

AT&T (NYSE: T) believes that its IPTV U-verse service should be an interactive experience whether viewers are sitting in front of the TV set or viewing content on their mobile device, so it has integrated the service with four social TV applications.

Anytime a U-verse TV customer opens an app on their tablet computer or smartphones and connects to his or her home network, social feeds and information from each app are available based on that day's programming lineup.

U-verse customers will be able to search for "U-verse enabled" apps, including the BuddyTV Guide, Miso, TV Foundry and Wayin, from Apple's iTunes Store.

The latest app drive is part of what AT&T's Jeff Weber, VP of video services, calls service integration where users can leverage wireless and wireline network tools to access their content.

AT&T's bet on integrating social media across the wireless and wireline domains into the viewing experience is not a far-fetched idea. Up to 75 percent of the telco's TV customers purchased three services, while three-fourths of U-verse TV subscribers chose a triple- or quad-play service package in Q2 2011.

"Customers want their TV viewing experience to be social, without distracting from the TV show on their TV screen, and they want their choice of apps from their smartphone or tablet to work seamlessly with their TV and enhance their favorite TV shows," Weber said in a statement.

For more:
- Multichannel News has this article
- here's FierceCable's take

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