AT&T’s U-verse IPTV Service Displaces TimeWarner Cable at the Weinkrantz Residence in San Antonio

Because I live in San Antonio, AT&T is offering free U-verse IPTV services to local residents who are willing to be trial users of their new IPTV platform.  I've had their DSL service at home and at our offices for several years.

Over the next few days, I will be writing about my dealings with the company, the installation, the user experience, and observations about the emerging industry. 

First of all, I need to disclose the following:  I run a high tech PR firm, who’s clients include the likes of AudioCodes, CopperGate Communications, Mercom Sytems, Pulver.com and IP Communications pioneer, Jeff Pulver.

I credit Jeff a great deal in helping me to understand a simple, basic, and powerful principle:  IP is just an application.   Jeff has some great blog posts about the subject of IP in the context of disruptive broadcasting which you can read by clicking here. 

A little over two years ago, Jeff was successful in petitioning the FCC to declaring Free World Dialup as an unregulated information service. This landmark decision by the FCC was the first decision it made on IP communications to date. Now referred to as "the Pulver Order", the ruling provides important clarification that computer-to-computer VoIP service is not a telecommunications service. Jeff has also been responsible for bringing forth new legislation aimed at keeping the Internet "open."  I'll be writing about these initiatives throughout the week as well.

These companies or individuals mentioned above are all involved in IP or VoIP related technology, products, services and thought leadership.  I am approaching the blog posts I am about to make as a consumer and not a technologist or a PR consultant to our clients.  No one is paying me to do this.  AT&T is offering the service at no charge, now - through October.  I have lost my HD signal, and I knew this going into the trial.

I have been a long time TimeWarner San Antonio cable customer and have no complaints about the service, or dealing with the company.  They deliver a great service.

Downstairs in the family room (shown above), we have a 56’  Sony HD TV with some very nice home theater equipment that was purchased and installed by San Antonio’s premier high end audio and video retailer, Bjorn’s.

In addition to the family room, we have what I call an audio room, which is really a combination of the formal dining room and a place for me to work when I am home.  That room has some outstanding audio components including Definitive Technologies speakers.   I also run the music through my Apple PowerBook using an AirPort so I can listen to Internet radio stations through the audio system.  We have another AirPort attached to a printer and one upstairs.

Over the last 5 years, I have spent about $15,000 on various components.   I don’t consider this a ton of money, but I would say that I have a better than average set-up and thoroughly enjoy the systems in our home. 

Upstairs, my 14 year old daugher has an analog Sony TV in her bedroom and new HD Samsung TV in what is now called the media room.  My 19 year old son, Aaron, also has an analog TV in his bedroom.

Aaron will soon be coming home from Israel from his Freshman year at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  We can video conference with Aaron using the Apple iSite.  Lauren also has an AirPort so she can do her homework and listen to her music at her desk, in her bedroom or media room.

That’s it for the physical set up.   Tomorrow, I will write about contacting AT&T to order the service and Time Warner (cable) to disconnect theirs.

Thanks for reading these posts.  Any questions, send an email to: alan at weinkrantz dot com.

Photo by Alan Weinkrantz (c) 2006 All Rights Reserved