AT&T to Service Devices Other Than Phones

Posted by: Olga Kharif on October 15, 2008

Today, AT&T announced a new initiative to offer wireless service plans to devices other than handsets. This idea isn’t new: Consumers could long buy connectivity for their laptops. Local governmental agencies have long used AT&T’s services to collect meter readings.

And AT&T is not the only carrier to service other devices: T-Mobile recently announced a plan to provide wireless connectivity to photo frames. The service costs $10 a month.

What’s clear is that the push to service devices other than handsets is gaining critical mass. After years of limited trials and little interest in the service, AT&T’s and T-Mobile are finally starting to see other devices as a big opportunity that’s ripe for picking. They believe that, eventually, your car’s GPS system, your photo frame, your stereo will hook into their nationwide wireless networks. The service could translate into substantial incremental revenues for the carriers.