14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless carrier AT&T recently announced plans to establish AT&T Innovation Centers aimed at the development of next-generation devices, applications and equipment, so as to enhance the capabilities of mobile broadband, as well as of wired one. According to the company, it will open the AT&T Innovation Centers in at least three locations during the ongoing year, two in the US and an international facility.
“The centers will be designed to enable AT&T scientists and engineers to work directly with device makers, application developers and network equipment providers to expedite development of an ecosystem of mobile and wired broadband services and capabilities for consumers and business users. Third-party developers will have access to a full range of AT&T services and network capabilities to facilitate development of new applications,” the carrier notes.
The facilities are meant to complement AT&T's plans to enhance and expand the mobile broadband capabilities during the next few years. The carrier will work on improving the speed on its 3G network during this year and the next, through deploying fiber-optic backhaul connections and HSPA 7.2 technology. It also has 10 HSPA 7.2-compatible handsets included in its offering at the moment, enabling customers to benefit from the faster 3G speeds it will provide.
Moreover, the wireless operator also plans starting field trials of LTE in 2010. This technology is expected to provide higher mobile broadband throughout and lower latency when compared to today’s 3G networks, while also helping the growth of powerful mobile applications and handsets. The commercial deployment of LTE is set for 2011, in line with the expected release time frame of first compatible LTE mobile devices. The carrier also announced that Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson, its selected LTE providers, would also participate in the AT&T Innovation Centers.
Details on the location of these facilities will be revealed later this year. “In addition to mobile broadband, the centers will also facilitate collaboration and development for wired broadband and the AT&T U-verse IPTV platform. AT&T is the only major service provider in the nation offering a 100-percent IP-based TV service, which provides numerous advantages over older, cable-based technologies, including the ability to integrate services and adapt to consumer demands. Because all of these services speak the same “language” with IP, AT&T is well-positioned to integrate applications over TV, broadband, home phone and wireless,” the company concluded.