AT&T to launch Digital Life in 15 markets, hopes to enter home automation field

AT&T Expands Digital Life Launch Markets

Customers in More Places Will Experience the Security, Simplicity and Efficiency of AT&T Digital Life
Dallas, Texas, March 22, 2013

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Customers in 15 markets across the U.S. will soon get to experience the newest technology in home security and automation, AT&T Digital LifeSM. AT&T* today announced expanded initial launch plans for Digital Life from eight to 15 markets beginning this spring. AT&T will continue to launch Digital Life in new markets across the nation, with plans to reach up to 50 markets by the end of 2013.

Smart Security

The core of AT&T Digital Life is a complete security solution. Through dedicated 24/7 monitoring centers, professionals will alert police and fire authorities of emergencies, along with customers, including details on where the event inside the home occurred. Customers can choose from security features such as window sensors, glass break detectors, carbon monoxide sensors and more.

Simple Automation

With a state-of-the-art, user-friendly application, customers can easily manage and control security and automation devices by setting up programs and alerts. For instance, you can get a notice when your front porch video camera sees motion or set your system to turn on lights, unlock the door and change the thermostat when the garage door opens. The all-digital, wireless Digital Life platform allows extensive flexibility with the sensors and services available to customers which include water leak, CO, smoke and glass break sensors, thermostats for managing energy, wirelessly-controlled door locks, video cameras, and more.

"We've been building AT&T Digital Life with the intent to establish a strong position in an industry ripe with potential to connect customers to their homes in a game-changing, wireless-centric experience," said Kevin Petersen, senior vice president, AT&T Digital Life. "We did extensive research, listened to our customers and worked hard to build a solution with an unmatched set of assets. We are excited for our customers to begin experiencing Digital Life and all the benefits it offers."

Experience AT&T Digital Life

Digital Life offers a simple purchasing process with several options. Customers may experience the services inside an AT&T store before making a purchase, order through a call center representative, visit att.com/digitallife, or schedule an appointment with an in-home sales consultant.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com. To learn more about Digital Life availability, visit www.att.com/digitallife.

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By: Unknown On 10:21 PM

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Deezer music streaming service seeks partner to help it enter the US

Deezer, a French music streaming service, is looking to finally invade the U.S. and is seeking a partner to help infiltrate the lucrative market.

Deezer is available in 160 countries at the moment. Normally, it gives users two hours a month of free, ad-supported streaming music.

Then it offers music buffs plans ranging from about £7 to £10 in the U.K. (about U.S. $9 to $12), and $7.50 to $14.50 in Australia. But no U.S. prices have been announced yet.

The tidbit of information comes in an interview with Deezer's CEO Axel Dauchez, published in the Wall Street Journal today.

"We are looking for a partner in the U.S., maybe an operator or a blue-chip company, that is able to provide us with a significant volume of subscribers," He told the WSJ.

In the interview, Dauchez said the company started shopping around for partners months ago.

He said the cost to enter the U.S. music streaming market is "unbelievably high," and is one of the most competitive markets on the planet.

Only a year ago, Deezer's U.K. Managing Director, Mark Foster, told TechRadar that the expensive barrier to entry prevented it from touching down on American shores.

"Never say never. But for the foreseeable future, it's not part of our plans," Foster said.

But after a year, it seems things have changed. Deezer is ready to enter the melee of the U.S. music market, with the right partner.

If Deezer does hit the U.S., Spotify will be one of its biggest challenges to overcome.

Though Spotify only operates in 17 countries, it's attracted 5 million subscribers compared to Deezer's 3 million members. But if Deezer is to topple the king of American music streaming, it might have to up its game.

Spotify offers 10 free hours of ad-supported streaming music before users hit a pay wall. That dwarfs Deezer's two hours of free music. But Deezer has a few tricks up its sleeve.

To lure customers away from Spotify, the Franco music streamer offers promotional trails, which gives users free rein of Deezer and unlimited streaming for a limited period.

But that is only in areas where its rival operates. And the trial will still be backed by advertisements.

But Spotify isn't the only music distributor to worry about. There's still the popular web radio site, Pandora, and the MP3 selling behemoth, iTunes.

With these opponent, Deezer has a steep uphill battle ahead of it, which makes picking the proper ally all the more important. However, CEO Dauchez didn't hint about any potential friends, or when Deezer might move forward with its plans to enter the U.S. market.

Via the Verge

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By: Dilusha On 10:18 PM

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AVG and Yahoo enter into agreement to protect you from malware

There used to be a time where one would only run the risk of contracting malware by installing questionable software on their computer. Those days are of course long behind us as it’s now possible to pick up an infection simply by clicking the wrong link and visiting a booby trapped website.

Fortunately there are an increasing number of measures to protect web users, much like the agreement recently announced between Amsterdam-based Internet and mobile security provider AVG and search provider Yahoo. The two companies are calling it a Search and Distribution relationship but essentially, Yahoo will now use AVG Secure Search which is powered by their LinkScanner technology.

As the name implies, Secure Search is designed to warn surfers about potentially dangerous websites. The goal is to protect your personal information, identity and your computer in general.

It seems that the deal couldn’t have come at a more critical time as Search Engine Land recently reported that infected search results jumped 80 percent since August as we’re now in the thick of the holiday season. Some of the more popular holiday-related searches that led to malware include crafts for Christmas, Christmas office party games and Christmas scavenger list for adults.

AVG CEO JR Smith said his company was excited to team up with Yahoo to help provide Internet users with peace of mind when searching the web or accessing their favorite online properties. He noted that it was a shift from their previous strategy of entering into exclusive agreements. Yahoo representative Shashi Seth echoed those sentiments, adding that the search company is committed to providing a rich search experience and they believe the partnership will broaden their search footprint moving forward.

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By: Dilusha On 1:26 PM

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