In bringing more interactive services to our TV’s, AT&T is opening up their API’s to Android devs to improve the quality of Android compatibility. There are currently 15 software titles available for the U-Verse service, and they are working to provide meaningful services for our televisions.
Vice President of U-Verse services GW Shaw showed us around some of the apps after the developer summit. The first example shown was from Splitmo, who created Poker Night TV, allowing people in home and remote to play poker against each other over U-Verse. The TV displays the poker table and your cards are shown on your phone or tablet screens, so you can protect your cards from prying eyes. I’m hoping in a future update the app will engage the cameras so I might see my pals’ tells.
“The AT&T U-verse Poker App is a great way to bring the game to the comfort of your own living room without having to travel to Las Vegas,” said Kasey Thompson, CEO of All In Magazine. “I really enjoy that you can play with your friends using devices to keep your cards private or play with friends remotely.”
Other apps released for this service include Twonky Beam which allows you to find media on an iPad and beam it to a TV, an interactive workout app, and Karaoke TV.
Now with more access to those APIs, there will be more opportunities to produce interactive media and content for the largest screens in our homes.
Full PR below.
AT&T Opens APIs for Android Platform to Help More Developers Build Apps for U-verse
Splitmo, AT&T Up the Ante with New Poker Night TV App for U-verse Customers
Las Vegas, Nevada, January 06, 2014
Today AT&T launched open APIs for the Android platform that will help developers create more unique apps for U-verse® TV.
The APIs allow developers to use AT&T technology in their apps and work with experts at AT&T Labsand the AT&T Foundry®. AT&T’s open network helps innovators inside and outside the company to quickly offer new ways for customers to interact with their devices and U-verse service. AT&T first launched its U-verse Enabled program and APIs for other mobile platforms in late 2011. The program has created more than 15 U-verse Enabled apps since then, allowing customers to use the apps on their smartphones and tablets to further engage with their TV. There are currently more than 5 million sessions of U-verse Enabled apps each month.
“When U-verse customers use our interactive apps, they’re more engaged and more satisfied with their experience,” said GW Shaw, Vice President of Video and U-verse Services, AT&T Home Solutions. “We look forward to working with more developers to bring fun and innovative apps to U-verse.”
U-verse Customers Can Play Their Best Hand, Right from their Couch
Developer Splitmo used AT&T’s open APIs and the U-verse Enabled platform to create Poker Night TV, a new app available today. Up to eight players can join for a virtual poker game on their U-verse TV and supporting smartphone or tablet. All the customer needs to add is a lounge singer and an all-you-can-eat buffet and they’re practically in Vegas.
Splitmo has created a digital-age version of Texas Hold’em Poker, which is the first multi-player gaming app available on U-verse. Your TV displays the common cards, pot and player positions. Individual players’ cards are kept hidden on their mobile devices. Players can place bets and look at their cards on their own device while the rest of the group keeps up with the action on the TV. Poker Night TV is free for all U-verse TV and Internet customers.
“Our focus is to integrate your TV and mobile apps in innovative ways, and AT&T’s open APIs allowed us to bring Poker Night TV to more than 5 million U-verse TV customers in a quick and easy way,” said Splitmo founder Rob Witman. “We’re proud to make our game app available on the AT&T platform.”
Customers can play the game by connecting their smartphone or tablet to their U-verse TV receiver over Wi-Fi. Simply download Poker Night TV from the app store to your mobile device. Then connect your device to any U-verse receiver in the home through channel 9301. U-verse TV customers already have access to several other U-verse Enabled TV apps at no extra charge.
AT&T U-verse is the fastest growing TV provider in the U.S.** with a $12 billion annualized revenue stream in less than seven years since its initial launch in 2006. Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse services. For more information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it’s available in your area — visit www.att.com/u-verse.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Claim based on comparison of major TV providers’ percentage growth in subscriber counts and national market share data as of 3Q2013.
Poker Night TV App: AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet service is required to connect a qualifying device to an AT&T U-verse receiver. Certain U-verse Enabled apps are offered by non-AT&T third parties, and those third-parties terms and conditions apply to the download and use of such apps.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
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4G LTE speed claim based on national carriers’ average 4G LTE download speeds. Reliability claim based on data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. 4G LTE availability varies.