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Earlier this week, AT&T announced a new product called the AT&T HomeManager which attempts to integrate Internet content, VoIP service, cordless/wireless handsets and frames, and a typical home POTS service into a single package. The HomeManager package is made up of three parts – a seven inch wireless touch-screen panel, a cordless handset, and a basestation which connects to your router or gateway.

Phone wise, the HomeManager connects to both a traditional landline as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connections. A speakerphone is built into both the frame as well as the cordless handset.homemanager 3 

The portable seven inch color touch-screen device provides users with one-touch access to a variety of features and Internet content including:

  • 7 inch display with a 800 x 480 resolution
  • 2 hour battery life during operation and 24 hour standby
  • Visual voice mail
  • Weather reports
  • E-mail access
  • Internet content such as local news, movie showtimes, previews, and reviews, sports scores, stock quotes, YellowPage search results, lottery numbers etc
  • Speakerphone
  • Up to five address books
  • Call logs
  • Calendars
  • Internal storage of 256MB
  • Also doubles as a digital photo frame

The cordless handset is a full duplex speakerphone with a 2 inch color screen.

To make use of the VoIP services as well as the Internet content, the HomeManager needs a broadband service with a minimum download speed of 768 Kbs.

Pricing for the HomeManager is as follows. The system is $299.99 if you have the following qualified services:

  • If you have AT&T home phone service and sign up for a two-year DSL contract at speeds of 1.5 Mps or higher.
  • Or, if you subscribe to U-verse TV, U-verse high speed Internet and have either U-verse voice or a telephone line from AT&T.

This includes the complete HomeManager package which includes the basestation, frame, and handset.

If you don’t meet the requirements, then the AT&T HomeManager will cost you $499.99. You can read more about the pricing details here.

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