EXCLUSIVE: AT&T HomeZone First Look

[RIRWIN1983]

AT&T is rolling the service out slowly and offers it in only two other markets, San Antonio and Ohio. AT&T plans to launch the service to all its customers in the fall, said Daniel Fishlow, director of video services marketing for AT&T.

Woohoo!

just an update, the homezone was featured in the september issue of the at&t provided enertainment & communications catalog. so it apears we should hear something soon about at&T rolling it out to all at&t served markets

[RandallA]

just an update, the homezone was featured in the september issue of the at&t provided enertainment & communications catalog. so it apears we should hear something soon about at&T rolling it out to all at&t served markets

Yeap, I saw that too. They have also been advertising the 622 for E* for a while now but everytime I call they tell me it's not available for AT&T customers, go figure.

[GaryPen]

Rollout January, they said it would output HD to 2 TV's with seperate tuners, not just HD to one, I have my doubts but thats what 2wire said.
Unless there is a redesign from the current 622 based HZ receiver I wouldn't necessarily pbuy stock in that statement.

he 250 gig HD will be partitioned so the Video side won't have the full 250 Megs.

They talked about other things and ran overtime so the Homezone was short. I'll check my notes later, I'm late for a party.

You never followed up, so I thought I'd nudge you a little.

1. What else did your notes say? Anything in addition to what you posted?
2. When you say the 250GB drive is partitioned, do you mean that some is reserved for OS, Home Media storage, VOD, etc? Any word on external hdd expandability?
3. Does "Rollout January" mean it is going widespread in January? Or, are you referring only to the HD version, with the SD version hitting broad markets before then?
4. Outputting HD to TV2 is possible using the internal RF modulator, if it's sw-upgradable to ATSC. Perhaps it is, and that's what they meant? Or, perhaps they will be upgrading the RF modulator HW to do this?
5. What did you mean by the HZ being 622-based? That is the first I've heard of it. The HZ, under the name of Media Portal, has been around in the prototype stages for years now. The 622 is much more recent, and looks nothing like the HZ in physical appearance (including connections), on-screen appearance, and/or operability. Where did you hear that it's 622-based?

[texas16309]

I noticed HomeZone on ATT's website now. But, it show's it's limited to new customers. I can't wait until it's rolled out to all ATT customers as it's features look neat - being able to schedule shows from the web!!

[RandallA]

It's $9.99 per month just to have the AT&T Home Zone. You're right, it's only available for new customers.


http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=7921

[GaryPen]

ATT and Dish make a perfect pair, judging from my first experience simply inquiring to see if HZ is available in my area.

I call the number on the HZ web page that is specifically for California. After waiting on hold for a while, the rep comes on, asks for my phone number, and proceeeds to tell me that office doesn't handle California. So, he transfers me to the office that does.

I wait on hold. They tell me they don't handle HomeZone, and transfers me to the office that does.

I wait on hold for a while, and they tell me they don't handle California. (They've gotta be f-ing kidding. But, unfortunately not.) She's very nice, and actually takes a while to look through her directory for California Homezone, offers to check first before transferring me (nice), confirms it's the right number, and transfers me.

The new rep gets on the line, introduces himself and HANGS UP.

I've decided to wait until tomorrow to call back.

[Smith, P.]

The right phone for CA,NV should be 800 310-2355;
AT&T doesn't have HD model now, only SD DVR 2WIRE or they will give DVR625.

[GaryPen]

Maybe I'll wait longer than tomorrow then. I'm only interested in HD, and I'm not interested in the 622 (I assume you meant 622?)

[Smith, P.]

No, that person wasn't knowledgeable at all and from fist minute of our conversation proposed CC check and said only DVR625 is available; after pointing to the URL above, he did reading to me that quick guide from SBC's site and finally brought firm requirement for the deal: AT120 or AT180 or AEP - that's all your choices.

[Digital Dude]

The HD version isn't going to be available until MArch or April according to my sources.