AT&T announced its entrance into the in-car satellite TV/satellite radio market this week at CES 2009 with its AT&T CruiseCast service. Orbitcast got an up-close and personal tour of the new service, including an demo ride around Las Vegas.AT&T CruiseCast is a satellite-based service that will provide 22 channels of live Satellite TV, and 20 channels of Satellite Radio, direct to vehicles.
The service is scheduled to launch in March 2009 and will cost $28 a month for a subscription.
AT&T has partnered with some big name content providers, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Discovery Kids, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network Mobile, USA, Comedy Central, MSNBC, CNN Mobile Live and CNBC.
The 20 channels of Satellite Radio music will be provided by MusicChoice, Orbitcast learned from an AT&T representative.
While the AT&T name carries strong brand recognition with consumers, it also holds a lot of clout when it comes to partnerships. And that's evidenced by a partnership with Avis Budget Group. Starting in the second quarter, AT&T CruiseCast will be available in Avis and Budget rental vehicles for $8.95 per day, or $62.65 per week.
The satellite-based services are broadcast over the Ku-band and made possible because of an antenna developed by RaySat, Inc.
In the satellite radio world, the antenna you see below is hardly "low-profile," but when compared to the KVH TracVision A7 it's definitely much smaller.
Admittedly, many people may not like this antenna on their roof, but this is still the first generation antenna. AT&T is looking into developing future versions that would be incorporated into parts of the vehicle (such as a spoiler).
The system can be incorporated into any car that has an in-vehicle video system. At this time, the hardware will cost cost $1299. AT&T is working on selling this on the aftermarket, but also making it available for installation at dealer locations.
So how well does it work? I had to find out, so Orbitcast got a live demonstration ride around Las Vegas in an AT&T CruiseCast equipped vehicle. This wasn't a "test" - this was a live satellite signal around the city - without a terrestrial repeater network.
The video quality is surprisingly clear, with a high number of frames-per-second, on a large 7" screen. Driving between buildings and under bridges didn't cause the signal to cut out at all.
How is this possible? An AT&T representative explained to me that the AT&T CruiseCast system holds a 7-8 minute buffer. That's enough time to maintain continuous play, even when stopped at a traffic light with buildings blocking the satellite signal.
AT&T didn't launch a satellite to get this system to happen, they rented satellite transponder space from Intelsat. Coverage is for the continental U.S.
I asked about whether there will be any consideration for augmenting the satellite signal with a terrestrial repeater network. AT&T said they are looking into it, most likely using the WCS spectrum.
The system can be incorporated into any car that has an in-vehicle video system. At this time, the hardware will cost cost $1299. AT&T is working on selling this on the aftermarket, but also making it available for installation at dealer locations.
So how well does it work? I had to find out, so Orbitcast got a live demonstration ride around Las Vegas in an AT&T CruiseCast equipped vehicle. This wasn't a "test" - this was a live satellite signal around the city - without a terrestrial repeater network.
The video quality is surprisingly clear, with a high number of frames-per-second, on a large 7" screen. Driving between buildings and under bridges didn't cause the signal to cut out at all.
How is this possible? An AT&T representative explained to me that the AT&T CruiseCast system holds a 7-8 minute buffer. That's enough time to maintain continuous play, even when stopped at a traffic light with buildings blocking the satellite signal.
AT&T didn't launch a satellite to get this system to happen, they rented satellite transponder space from Intelsat. Coverage is for the continental U.S.I asked about whether there will be any consideration for augmenting the satellite signal with a terrestrial repeater network. AT&T said they are looking into it, most likely using the WCS spectrum.
For now, the system and subscription is pricey for most consumers. But AT&T argues that Sirius Backseat TV costs $6.99 a month for only 3 channels of TV content - and that needs to be on top of a satellite radio subscription (nearly $20/month total). And as the product matures, the hardware pricing with eventually go down in price.
Until the hardware gets cheaper and the antenna gets smaller (or hidden), Sirius XM might not have to worry too much about consumers jumping ship, yet. But with a launch date scheduled for March, this is as real competition as it gets.
[AT&T CruiseCast website]
I am surprised at this.
I love the satrad, but holy cow, there's a lot of technology making it look silly
I don't understand what the Satellite Radio License does for SIRI XM if anybody can just rent satellite space and broadcast radio via satellite. What were all of the "Monopoly" allegations about then?
Anybody?
$28 a month? Uh ... no.
How was the audio quality? Commercials?
MusicChoice? Yuck!
MusicChoice! YES! I dumped directv partly due to the music channels first being a waste of bandwidth and second being part of a Melvin Alan "Mel" Karmazin "merge" monopoly. Guilty by association. Early 2009 is when all the smart ties are cut with the siriusxm critch, 2009 the year that siriusxm is history.
>>> I love the satrad, but holy cow, there's a lot of technology making it look silly
Yeah, those antennas are killer.
I may have to have one just for the looks.
No thanks- I will stick with Sirius/XM
Sirius need to get ESPN for Sirius BackseatTV, that would be a huge deal for tailgaters!
$1200 + a huge dome on my roof - no thank you! Additionally, Thank you AT&T for making SIRIUS|XM look like an even better deal at $12.95/mo.
This is a TV service; the radio is just an extra perk.
That antenna is like a giant dunce cap. "Yeah, I'm the dumbass that paid $1200 for this so my kids could watch MTV".
At 1200.00 a pop expect this mirage to go the way of the picturephone in 1970. I still am baffled to understand why AT&T would waste the money on this losing pig. We have some genius management teams working overtime to be morons here.
over 30 bucks a month for something the driver cant even watch.
who is gonna pay for that!
most of my trips are 30 mins or less
and most of the time its just me in the
car.
"over 30 bucks a month for something the driver cant even watch"
LOL. My point exactly. You are paying $1200 and $28/mo for a TV service that is only useful when you have the family in the car. Sirius expands their channel lineup, and this AT&T service is dead.
I grew up with out tv in the car. Not saying that I wouldn't let my kids watching tv in the car but if I am only driving around town or running erands the tv, dvd player, whatever will not and does not need to be on.
Now on vacation is a whole other story but that is still iffy and I have a portable dvd player for that.
Matt is dead on with regards to tailgaters and ESPN. Have you ever been to a college tailgate and seen all the rich alumni setting up the dish and direct TV satellites to watch ESPN. It would be a breeze if Sirius would just add ESPN to it's TV package.
I'm sure it would be a breeze to add ESPN to the Sirius lineup, but I doubt ESPN is going to give it away out of the goodness of their heart. They probably want outlandish fees and Siri really doesn't have the capital right now to enter into such an agreement.
I see the RaySat logo, they made a piece of crap antenna a couple of years ago that never worked right. I would be wary of the reliability of the hardware.
see all your favorite shows at 90 miles per hour - then watch them in a ditch on the side of the road - thats if your lucky enough to keep your eyes- with news as the exception why do we need live tv on the road- everything is on demand now - & WIFI will soon be everywhere - this wont make it as a tv service, but ill bet that it will stick around because AT&T are setting up for a HUGE tech leap & will be its portal to us.
I SECOND THAT!!!! FINALLY MUSIC CHOICE IN THE CAR WITHOUT THE USE OF A SLINGBOX, COMPUTER, AND EVDO CARD! Dumping Sirius XM crap ASAP!
Don't be stupid. WiFi and WiMAX will not be everywhere. For that it would have to come from a satellite. And you're not going to waste two-way radio spectrum on a one-way broadcast service like this.
This competes directly with Sirius Backseat TV and MediaFLO.
Sirius XM Radio is not competing with this.