Katy Perry has forever ruined the line, “waking up in Vegas,” so this will be the last time I say it.
Day 1 of the CTIA Super Mobility conference, like most expos, started with a large coffee and badge pickup. The floor didn’t open until 10:30, so I had plenty of time to plan my attack. If you have ever been to a tech conference before, like a CES or IFA, then you will understand CTIA’s layout fairly well. In fact, you might not be able to tell the difference.
Since I’m here to learn about everything AT&T, they were my first stop of the day. From the mock layout I saw of their booth before stepping foot in it, I knew I was in for connectivity overload and all things IoT. Below are a few of my favorite AT&T announcements to come out of CTIA Day 1:
Watch It Anywhere with AT&T DIRECTV
Today, AT&T and DIRECTV announced massive updates to their DIRECTV app. You can now access live programming you subscribe to on DIRECTV anywhere you have internet access, whether it be through your mobile network or Wi-Fi. Even better, if you’re an AT&T customer, the new Data Free TV feature allows you to stream DIRECTV and AT&T U-verse content without counting against your AT&T data allowance.
In addition to the killer Data Free TV feature, users can now also stream recorded programs and view recorded programs offline. A great example of the offline feature is for travelers. Imagine you had recorded programs at home you have been dying to watch, but just never had enough time. Before jumping on a plane, train, or whatever, you can now download your recorded programing and watch it offline. How cool is that?
“Our customers want to take their TVs with them, and our new DIRECTV App allows just that,” said David Christopher, CMO, AT&T Entertainment Group. “You can get the content you want, when you want it…. your living room channels and your recorded content with you, anywhere you go.”
Learn more about the newly updated DIRECTV App here.
AT&T Exclusive U.S. Wireless Carrier for LeEco Connected Super Bike
Internet of Things (IoT) is all about connecting everyday objects to one another, allowing them to send and receive data. Today, Chinese company LeEco announced AT&T as the exclusive U.S. wireless carrier for the Super Bike. Their main object is safety, and with that comes the ability to allow riders to stay connected with their bike whether they’re on it or off it.
The LeEco Super Bike features a GPS system, media center, fingerprint scanner, intercom system and smart locks. Similar to a car, there’s head and tail lights, a horn, and even turn signals. No bike lane? No problem! The Super Bike has lasers on its side to create a personal bike lane.
“LeEco was founded on the vision of a connected world, elevated by a powerful ecosystem of robust technologies and experiences,” said Danny Bowman, Chief Revenue Officer, LeEco. “The LeEco Super Bike is the perfect example of how we are unifying different technologies into a single device that will give individuals a unique, seamless experience.”
Learn more about LeEco and AT&T’s partnership here.
Stay tuned for my updates from me and my partner AT&T as CTIA Super Mobility 2016 continues to unfold. And don’t forget you can stay up-to-date with all things CTIA by following @ATT on Twitter and the hashtag #SuperMobility.
