Mobile Device Categories

AT&T News Room (1/26/10):
In 2009, AT&T certified 370 wireless specialty consumer and machine-to-machine devices - such as eReaders, netbooks, digital photo frames, personal navigation devices, and home security monitoring and smart grid devices - for use on its mobile broadband network.

Major emerging mobile devices can be grouped into five categories:

1. eReaders: AT&T provides the mobile broadband connection for top selling eReaders, including the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble nook. AT&T has signed agreements to connect the Plastic Logic QUE™ proReader and Interead’s COOL-ER 3G, both expected to launch in the coming months.
2. Netbooks: AT&T provides embedded wireless connectivity for netbooks and laptops from major computing device manufacturers, including Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung, among others.
   
3. Personal Navigation Devices: AT&T provides the network connection to the only wirelessly connected, dedicated personal navigation devices in the market, the Garmin nüvi^® 1690 and the TomTom XL 340S LIVE, both featuring local search and fuel price services, among other content.
4. Digital Photo Frames: AT&T will provide the wireless connection for two digital photo frames – Isabella’s VIZIT and the Pandigital Photo Mail LED Digital Photo Frame – both expected to be in market in the first quarter of 2010.
5. Telematics Devices: AT&T enables telematics service for a major luxury automotive OEM and has plans to expand to other automakers. A telematic device can be used to receive general information via the car radio, and data relating to the vehicle location, destination, or an emergency call can be sent to a central station.

ChaCha and ATT

AT&T announced a strategic relationship with ChaCha, a fast growing text messaging mobile search service. ChaCha will use a co-branded greeting and promote AT&T when consumers call 1-800 2ChaCha (1-800-2-242242).

ChaCha provides free answers to any question — anytime, anywhere — to and from any activated wireless phone. Questions can cover any topic, from science to culture to sports and more. Easier than calling or texting a reference librarian? For many questions and fast facts, yes. According to ChaCha's "Confessions" page, most questions fall into 3 categories: get an answer now ( like when you are in a store and want a comparison price); prove your friend wrong (win a bet); make the most of your day (seem like a catch-all for testimonials or thank you notes to ChaCha). Reference Librarians, don't worry. You probably already have ChaCha as a "favorite" on your iPhone or Blackberry.