LAS VEGAS — AT&T showed consumers a glimpse into the future of communications and high-speed mobile broadband at, unveiling seven new 4G LTE smartphones, a $299.99 4G LTE tablet and streamlined tools for "app" or application inventors to more quickly launch their ideas.
The new devices, all powered by the company's 4G LTE network, were announced at the AT&T Developer Summit one day before the opening of the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, which started Monday. The new smartphones and tablet will all operate on either the Android or Windows platforms and are expected to be available to consumers early this year.
"Delivering a first-class mobile broadband experience to our customers is at the forefront of everything we do," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "To achieve this, we're bringing together the industry's best 4G smartphone portfolio, a blazing fast LTE 4G network, and innovative applications that stem from our collaborative relationship with the developer community."
The annual AT&T Developer Summit is a two-day event for software developers to hear the latest news on AT&T 4G devices and network and get technical news and marketing insights from industry experts. More than 2,000 developers attended this year's event.
Joining de la Vega in announcing the new smartphones and tablet were Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other top executives from leading communications technology companies such as Samsung, Sony, Nokia, HTC and Pantech.
In the coming weeks, AT&T will begin offering the Samsung Galaxy Note, which features the world's first 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED screen (1280x800) for sharp, clear colors and readability. It also features the S Pen, giving users the ability to easily sketch drawings, jot down notes, or write emails and texts quickly and easily in free-form handwriting.
AT&T also unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, a 4G LTE smartphone with a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED screen and 1.5GHz dual-core processor for smooth game play and video playback.
The first 4G LTE smartphone from Sony, the Xperia ion, will support access to the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network, such as a global music catalog, the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios. Xperia ion is also PlayStation Certified, offering a high-quality gaming experience.
Other upcoming devices announced by AT&T were:
— The Pantech Element, an LTE-connected Android tablet available exclusively at AT&T company-owned stores and online for $299.99 with a two-year contract on Jan. 22.
— The Samsung Exhilarate, a smartphone constructed from 80 percent recycled post-consumer materials with access to AT&T U-verse(r) Live TV.
— The Pantech Burst, which combines 4G LTE speeds and the latest Android functionality in a slim, affordable package - just $49.99 with a two-year contract.
— The HTC TITAN II, a Windows Phone with a 16-megapixel camera and a 4.7-inch screen, making it perfect for watching movies, playing games, emailing and surfing the Web.
— Nokia's first-ever 4G LTE Windows Phone.
For a limited time, customers may buy the Pantech Element and Burst together and get $100 off the total price, resulting in a combined $249.99 best price for both the tablet and smartphone with a two-year agreement on both devices.
The two-day AT&T Developer Summit underscored AT&T's commitment to opening up its network to developers and creating opportunities for collaboration.
"Applications are one of the primary reasons people buy smartphones and tablets," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "With that appetite, we need to have the world's greatest apps - running at their best - on our network. Collaborating with developers and supporting their creativity through the AT&T API Platform and other best-in-class tools is the best way that we can make sure our 100 million-plus wireless customers have access to the best apps and mobile experience."
For example, Christopher said, AT&T is opening up AT&T U-verse receivers to developers to enable development of multi-screen applications that interact in the home with U-verse TV, the fastest-growing TV provider in the United States over the past 11 quarters combined, with 3.6 million subscribers and $7 billion in annualized revenue as of third quarter 2011
"We're taking the hottest TV product and we're marrying it with the hottest mobile technology," Christopher said. "This will create great opportunities for developers and benefits for our customers."