Back in April, Samsung slapped back at Apple’s claims of patent infringement with a healthy helping of ten claims of its own. Now Bloomberg is reporting that Samsung quietly dropped its countersuit against the Cupertino-based company on June 30th, in an attempt “to streamline the legal proceedings.” Of course that doesn’t mean the saga is over: Apple’s smartphone infringement accusations stand, as do legal battles in South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the UK. Samsung says it will also continue to fight Apple’s accusations in the US in the form of a counter-claim. One down, one to go?

Update: To clarify, this does not mean that Samsung has abandoned its own infringement claims against Apple. Those claims have been rolled into counter-claims in the original suit.

Samsung drops Apple countersuit — Apple’s still got a bone to pick originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T has announced its financial figures for Q4 2010, and the carrier has been buoyed by strong iPhone and tablet activations. Wireless revenues as a whole are up 9.9-percent, aided by 4.1m iPhone activations in the three month period, along with 442,000 tablet activations. We can’t credit the iPad for the entireity of that figure, however, since it also includes Android slates like the Galaxy Tab.

In total, 2.8m wireless customers joined the network, for a total of 95.5m altogether, and data revenue climbed by more than a quarter versus the same period a year ago: up 27.4-percent to $4.9bn. Based on that, says CEO Randall Stephenson, AT&T has “accelerated our LTE deployment plans, and we expect to add 20 4G devices to our lineup this year.”

Of the tablets – which the carrier describes as “a new growth area” – nearly 90-percent were bought with prepaid tariffs. AT&T makes no mention of the fact that it is losing exclusivity of the iPhone come February, when Verizon will begin to offer the Apple smartphone.

Press Release:

AT&T Reports Record 2.8 Million Wireless Net Adds, Strong U-verse Sales, Continued Revenue Gains in the Fourth Quarter

$0.18 diluted EPS, $0.55 excluding significant items; compared to $0.46 diluted EPS and $0.50 per diluted share when excluding significant items in the year-earlier period
Consolidated revenues of $31.4 billion in the fourth quarter, up $653 million, or 2.1 percent, versus the year-earlier period
9.9 percent growth in wireless revenues, with a 9.6 percent increase in wireless service revenues
Best-ever wireless net adds, with a more than 2.8 million increase in total wireless subscribers to reach 95.5 million subscribers in service; full-year wireless net adds totaled 8.9 million, the company’s best-ever annual total
Continued expansion in new wireless growth areas; connected devices up a record 1.5 million; iPad- and Android-based tablets up 442,000
27.4 percent growth in wireless data revenues, up $1.1 billion versus the year-earlier quarter
Postpaid subscriber ARPU (average monthly revenues per subscriber) up 2.2 percent to $62.88, the eighth consecutive quarter with a year-over-year increase
Best-ever fourth-quarter total wireless churn at 1.32 percent; 1.15 percent postpaid churn, matching previous best-ever fourth-quarter level
Second consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in wireline consumer revenues, driven by AT&T U-verse® services
246,000 net gain in AT&T U-verse TV subscribers to reach nearly 3 million in service, with continued high broadband and voice attach rates
28.5 percent growth in wireline consumer IP data revenues, driven by AT&T U-verse expansion
210,000 net gain in wireline broadband connections
17.1 percent growth in revenues from strategic business services such as Ethernet, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), hosting and application services, the largest increase during the year
Note: AT&T’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call will be broadcast live via the Internet at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at www.att.com/investor.relations.

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today reported fourth-quarter results highlighted by revenue growth, record wireless net adds, strong U-verse services sales and gains in IP-based and strategic business services revenues.

“We had another strong quarter and a solid year,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer. “Our major growth platforms – mobile broadband, U-verse and strategic business services – continue to set the pace for the industry, and we’re still early in the growth cycle for all of these areas. Progress across these growth platforms, combined with continued progress on our cost-improvement initiatives, drive our positive outlook.

“2011 is the year when we’ll take mobile broadband to the next level,” Stephenson said. “We’re seeing 4G speeds today in areas of key markets, we’ve accelerated our LTE deployment plans, and we expect to add 20 4G devices to our lineup this year. AT&T has led the mobile broadband revolution, and we are well positioned to drive the industry’s next waves of innovation and growth.”

Fourth-Quarter Financial Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, AT&T’s consolidated revenues totaled $31.4 billion, up $653 million, or 2.1 percent, versus the year-earlier quarter, marking the company’s fourth consecutive quarter with a year-over-year revenue increase.

Compared with results for the fourth quarter of 2009, operating expenses were $29.3 billion versus $26.1 billion; operating income was $2.1 billion, down from $4.6 billion; and AT&T’s operating income margin was 6.7 percent, compared to 14.9 percent. Excluding fourth-quarter significant items, operating expenses were $25.8 billion versus $25.6 billion, operating income was $5.6 billion, compared to $5.1 billion, and operating income margin was 17.7 percent, compared to 16.6 percent.

Fourth-quarter 2010 net income attributable to AT&T totaled $1.1 billion, or $0.18 per diluted share. Excluding a one-time charge of $0.26 from a previously disclosed pension accounting change; a $0.09 charge for severance costs; and a $0.02 charge for asset impairments, adjusted earnings per share was $0.55. These results compare with reported net income attributable to AT&T of $2.7 billion, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. Excluding significant items, earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.50 per diluted share. Excluding significant items, fourth-quarter 2010 earnings per share was up 10.0 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2009.

Fourth-quarter 2010 cash from operating activities totaled $9.6 billion, and capital expenditures totaled $6.6 billion. Free cash flow — cash from operating activities minus capital expenditures — totaled $3.1 billion.

Full-Year Results, Outlook

For the full year 2010, compared with 2009 results, AT&T’s consolidated revenues totaled $124.3 billion versus $122.5 billion; operating expenses were $104.7 billion, compared with $101.5 billion; net income attributable to AT&T was $19.9 billion versus $12.1 billion; and earnings per diluted share was $3.35 compared with $2.05. Earnings per share, excluding significant items, totaled $2.29, compared with $2.07, an increase of 10.6 percent for the year.

Compared with 2009 results, AT&T’s full-year cash from operating activities totaled $35.0 billion, up from $34.4 billion. Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $20.3 billion versus $17.3 billion, including a more than 50 percent increase in wireless-related capital investment versus the year earlier, as AT&T aggressively deployed next-generation wireless broadband networks; and free cash flow totaled $14.7 billion, compared with $17.1 billion.

In 2011, AT&T expects consolidated revenue growth in conjunction with an expansion in consolidated, wireline and wireless operating margins, including wireless service margins. Achieving these targets will lead to expected mid-single digit or better earnings per share growth versus 2010 earnings, excluding changes in capitalized interest. (In 2011, AT&T will no longer capitalize interest expense attributable to the company’s LTE-related spectrum purchases. The impact of the change would have reduced earnings per share by $0.07 in 2010. Therefore, projected earnings growth is based on a 2010 earnings per share number of $2.22.)

AT&T also expects modest improvement in free cash flow, with capital expenditures in the low-to-mid $19 billion range, as increases in wireless spending will be offset by lower wireline capital expenditures and the elimination of capitalized interest in LTE spectrum.

Wireless Operational Highlights

Led by record subscriber additions, AT&T delivered continued strong growth in its wireless business in the fourth quarter, including wireless service revenue gains. The fourth quarter was also the first quarter in the company’s history in which wireless revenues exceeded wireline revenues. Highlights included:

Best-Ever Subscriber Gain. AT&T posted a net gain in total wireless subscribers of 2.8 million, to reach 95.5 million in service, the best net gain in the company’s history. Full-year wireless net adds totaled 8.9 million (adjusted for mergers and acquisitions), the company’s best-ever annual total. Fourth-quarter net add growth reflects rapid adoption of smartphones, increases in prepaid subscribers, strength in the reseller channel and a record quarter in connected devices such as eReaders, security systems, fleet management and a host of other products. AT&T also had a another strong tablet quarter, a new growth area for the company. It added 442,000 iPad- and Android-based tablets to its network, with more than 90 percent of these booked to the prepaid category.

Retail net adds for the quarter include postpaid net adds of 400,000 and prepaid net adds of 307,000. Connected device net adds were 1.5 million, and reseller net adds were 595,000.

Churn at Record Fourth-Quarter Levels. Postpaid churn was 1.15 percent, matching last year’s best-ever fourth-quarter record. Total churn was a record-low fourth-quarter level of 1.32 percent versus 1.42 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Continued Strength in Integrated Device Sales. AT&T continued to grow its base of integrated device subscribers. More than 7.4 million postpaid integrated devices were sold in the fourth quarter, including the second-largest quarterly number of upgrades in the company’s history. Integrated device sales included 4.1 million iPhone activations. More than 80 percent of postpaid sales were integrated devices. (Integrated devices are handsets with QWERTY or virtual keyboards in addition to voice functionality and are a key driver of wireless data usage.)

At the end of the quarter, 61.0 percent of AT&T’s 68.0 million postpaid subscribers had integrated devices, up from 46.8 percent a year earlier. The average ARPU for integrated devices on AT&T’s network is 1.7 times that of the company’s non-integrated device base. More than 80 percent of integrated device subscribers are on FamilyTalk and/or business discount plans. Churn levels for these subscribers are significantly lower than for other postpaid subscribers.

Continued Strong Wireless Revenue Growth. Wireless service revenues increased 9.6 percent, to $13.8 billion, in the fourth quarter. Total wireless revenues, which include equipment sales, were up 9.9 percent year over year to $15.2 billion.

Robust Growth in Wireless Data Revenues. Wireless data revenues — driven by messaging, Internet access, access to applications and related services — increased $1.1 billion, or 27.4 percent, from the year-earlier quarter to $4.9 billion. AT&T postpaid wireless subscribers on monthly data plans increased by 20.4 percent over the past year. Versus the year-earlier quarter, total text messages carried on the AT&T network increased by nearly 29 percent to 173.1 billion, and multimedia messages increased by 75.0 percent to 3.9 billion.

Further Postpaid ARPU Growth. Driven by strong data growth, postpaid subscriber ARPU increased 2.2 percent versus the year-earlier quarter to $62.88. This marked the eighth consecutive quarter AT&T has posted a year-over-year increase in postpaid ARPU. Postpaid data ARPU reached $22.64, up 17.8 percent versus the year-earlier quarter.

Wireless Margins. Fourth-quarter wireless margins reflected increased operating costs associated with strong integrated device activations and high customer upgrade levels, offset in part by improved operating efficiencies and further revenue growth from the company’s base of high-quality integrated device subscribers. AT&T’s fourth-quarter wireless operating income margin was 22.9 percent versus 25.9 percent in the year-earlier quarter, and AT&T’s wireless OIBDA service margin was 37.6 percent, compared with 40.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 and flat sequentially. (OIBDA service margin is operating income before depreciation and amortization, divided by total service revenues.) Fourth-quarter wireless operating expenses totaled $11.7 billion, up 14.3 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, and wireless operating income was $3.5 billion, down 2.8 percent year over year.

Wireline Operational Highlights

AT&T’s fourth-quarter wireline results were highlighted by continued growth in consumer revenues, sustained growth in revenues from strategic business services and solid cost management. Highlights included:

Growth in Wireline Consumer Revenues. Driven by strength in IP data services, revenue from residential customers totaled $5.3 billion in the fourth quarter, up 0.7 percent year over year, their second consecutive year-over-year increase.

Continued U-verse Service Gains Driving Consumer Growth. AT&T U-verse TV had its best quarter of the year, adding 246,000 subscribers to reach nearly 3 million in service. In the fourth quarter, the AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet attach rate continued to run above 90 percent, and 60 percent of subscribers took AT&T U-verse Voice. More than three-fourths of AT&T U-verse TV subscribers have a triple- or quad-play option from AT&T. ARPU for U-verse triple-play customers was more than $160.

AT&T’s U-verse deployment now reaches more than 27 million living units. Companywide penetration of eligible living units is 14.2 percent, and across areas marketed to for 30 months or more, overall penetration is more than 22 percent. AT&T’s total video subscribers, which combine the company’s U-verse and bundled satellite customers, reached 4.9 million at the end of the quarter, representing 19.7 percent of households served.

Improved Wireline Broadband Growth. Driven by strength in AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet service and standalone broadband, AT&T posted a 210,000 net gain in wireline broadband connections. About two-thirds of consumers have a broadband plan of 3 Mbps or higher.

U-verse Revenues Up 73.4 Percent. Increased AT&T U-verse penetration drove 28.5 percent year-over-year growth in IP revenues from residential customers (broadband, U-verse TV and U-verse Voice). U-verse continues to drive a transformation in AT&T’s consumer area, reflected by the fact that IP revenues now represent 45.0 percent of AT&T’s consumer wireline revenues, up from 35.3 percent in the year-earlier quarter and up from 25.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. In the fourth quarter, AT&T U-verse revenues were $1.3 billion, 73.4 percent higher than in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Further Growth in Revenues Per Household. Driven by AT&T U-verse services, wireline revenues per household served increased 7.5 percent versus the year-earlier fourth quarter and were up 0.4 percent sequentially. This marked AT&T’s 12th consecutive quarter with year-over-year growth in wireline consumer revenues per household.

Consumer Connection Trends. In the fourth quarter, AT&T posted a decline in total consumer revenue connections due primarily to expected declines in traditional voice access lines, consistent with broader industry trends and somewhat offset by increases in U-verse TV and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connections. AT&T U-verse Voice connections increased by 186,000 in the quarter and 726,000 over the past four quarters. Total consumer revenue connections at the end of the fourth quarter were 43.4 million, compared with 45.3 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 and 43.7 million at the end of the third quarter of 2010.

17.1 Percent Growth in Strategic Business Services Revenues. Revenues from new-generation capabilities that lead AT&T’s most advanced business solutions — including Ethernet, VPNs, hosting, IP conferencing and application services — grew 17.1 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, their strongest growth during the year, and were up 5.5 percent from the third quarter of 2010, continuing AT&T’s strong trends in this category. Total business revenues were $9.4 billion, a decline of 4.5 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, reflecting economic weakness in voice and legacy data products, and the third-quarter sale of the company’s Japan assets. Business service revenues, which exclude CPE, declined 4.3 percent year over year and decreased slightly sequentially, down 1.2 percent.

Improved Growth in Business IP Revenues. Total business IP data revenues grew 9.0 percent versus the year-earlier fourth quarter, led by growth in VPN revenues. Global Enterprise Solutions IP data revenues grew 11.0 percent. More than 70 percent of AT&T’s frame customers have made the transition to IP-based solutions, which allow them to easily add managed services such as network security, cloud services and IP conferencing on top of their infrastructures. This generated total business data revenue growth of 1.1 percent, the largest growth in this category in four quarters.

Improved Wireline Margin Trends. AT&T’s fourth-quarter wireline operating income margin was 13.0 percent, compared with 12.3 percent in the year-earlier quarter and 13.0 percent in the third quarter of 2010. Fourth-quarter total wireline revenues were $15.1 billion, down 3.2 percent versus the year-earlier quarter. Fourth-quarter wireline operating expenses were $13.1 billion, down 3.9 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2009 and down 1.1 percent sequentially. Wireline operating income totaled $2.0 billion, compared to $1.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009 and $2.0 billion in the third quarter of 2010.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

*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.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Relevant Entries on SlashGear

• AT&T grabs #1 spot from Verizon as nation’s largest carrier
• SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 27 2011
• German iPhones unlocked using iTunes
• New rumor has Apple working on 13 and 15-inch tablets
• 1 in 6 iPhones purchased with the intent to unlock

Just think — a decade from now, you won’t even need to spend eight grueling years in the books to be able to practice medicine. Instead, you’ll be able to drop endless cash on smartphone attachments while letting the robots handle the rest. FotoFinder Systems is one company working hard to make that future a reality, with its recently updated Handyscope iOS app working in conjunction with the camera attachment shown above. To do what, you say? To turn your iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 into a digital dermatoscope for mobile skin examination. It’ll probably make quite a few stomachs turn, but the peripheral + app combo allows mere mortals to take dermoscopic photos which can be viewed with a magnification of up to 20X, enabling users to email them directly to their physician (Dr. Spaceman, we hope) for a second opinion. In all seriousness, we can’t imagine anyone at risk for skin cancer even waiting for this thing to arrive before going to get checked out, but if you’re willing to pay big bucks to play doctor, the attachment is on sale now for €1,166 ($1,582), with the accompanying app going for a comparatively modest $11.99. Vid’s after the break, if you’re into it.

Continue reading Handyscope attachment turns your iPhone into a dermatoscope, no residency required

Handyscope attachment turns your iPhone into a dermatoscope, no residency required originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Multitouch gestures have been spotted in the iOS 4.3 Beta 1 release, with BGR‘s sources sending in evidence of internal settings pages that suggest the iPhone will also get the gesture support, not just the iPad. Meanwhile Antoni Nygaard has managed to get the functionality working on his iPhone 3GS, and caught the whole thing on video.

Video demo after the cut

As you might expect, the same gestures that would work well on the 9.7-inch display of an iPad are a little more cumbersome on a 3.5-inch smartphone. Count on completely covering the display while you swipe with four fingers, for instance.

Nygaard also demonstrates the changeable rotation lock/mute switch setting, which upset iPad owners when it was removed in iOS 4.2. Previous rumors suggested that Apple would ditch the physical home button on the iPad and iPhone and instead use gestures for controlling home and app switcher functionality; it certainly seems that’s possible, though whether it’s especially elegant on the iPhone is a matter of opinion.

[via Engadget and via IntoMobile]

We’ve seen countless individuals integrate their phone, PMP or tablet into their whip, but for years, we’ve all been thinking the same thing: “There has to be an easier way.” Turns out, there is. One Mr. Romin has seemingly unearthed the solution, which involves a Lilliput FA1042 touchpanel, a Belkin AV dock adapter cable and a critical piece of software by the name of Centrafuse. Working in conjunction, he has enabled his monitor to actually control the iPhone, and when firing up a YouTube video, the content plays back on the big screen while the controls remain visible on the handset. It’s a nifty setup, for sure, and we’re downright excited to see this rig get installed in a vehicle far too small for American roads in a fortnight or so. For now, catch it working in action just past the break.

Continue reading Centrafuse leads to iPhone control via touchscreen, carputer dreams come to life (video)

Centrafuse leads to iPhone control via touchscreen, carputer dreams come to life (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, a phone that Apple introduced back in 2009 (that’d be the iPhone 3GS) is now selling — brand new with a two-year voice / data agreement — for $49, both at AT&T and through Apple directly. Of course, you could get the far more capable iPhone 4 for a fair amount more, or you could wait until tomorrow so you’d actually have an option when it comes to carriers. Your call, obviously.

Apple drops iPhone 3GS to $49 on contract, we pretend the timing is coincidental originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T isn’t the only place to get a cut-price iPhone 3GS now; Apple has followed suit and discounted the last-gen iPhone to $49 with a new, two-year agreement. With AT&T having begun $49 sales of the iPhone 3GS on Friday last week, Apple’s own direct sales site has matched the pricing.

The discounting was believed to be a further stage in AT&T’s attempt to lock in subscribers with new two-year agreements ahead of what’s expected to be the official launch of the Verizon iPhone tomorrow. It’s unlikely that Apple would be making a Verizon-spec 3GS, so this official discounting is likely to be a move to shift old stock before the new CDMA device becomes official.

The iXtreamer iPod/iPad dock has landed in the UK, and you’re getting plenty for your money. As well as an extra-wide docking slot suitable for Apple’s iOS tablet, there’s WiFi b/g/n, a 3.5-inch hard-drive bay, HDMI and network connectivity.

To be honest, iPad support is only one string to the iXtreamer’s bow; it’ll work as a DLNA/UPnP streamer, play back 1080p HD video with 7.1 surround sound, stream internet radio, work as a TwonkyMedia server and as a standalone NAS or FTP server. There’s also Blu-ray ISO support, the ability to use your iPhone as a remote control, and a full on-screen UI.

It’ll also play FLV streaming video from online, opening the door to accessing on-demand content as well. The iXtreamer is priced at £159 ($247) from Advanced MP3 Players and is shipping now.

It may look like the buzzer for some brilliant TV game show, but this is actually Griffin Technology’s Beacon, another option for turning your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a universal remote control. As we’ve seen from other companies, Beacon hooks up to your iOS device via Bluetooth, and then squirts our IR commands sent from the custom Griffin app.

The app itself is provided by Dijit, and comes with a library of IR codes for different TVs, STBs, A/V receivers and more. It’ll also learn new codes if you’ve got some particularly unusual hardware.

Griffin reckon the Beacon unit itself will last for up to two months on a set of four AA batteries. It’ll go on sale later in 2011, priced at $79.99.

Press Release:

Griffin and Dijit Turn Your Mobile Device into a Universal Remote

Beacon Universal Remote controls an entire entertainment system from a mobile device.

Nashville, TN — January 5, 2011 — Griffin Technology, maker of innovations for everyday life, has partnered with software developer Dijit to turn your favorite iOS or smartphone device into a Universal Remote Control. Beacon allows fingertip control of your entire entertainment system, thanks to hardware and app integration from Griffin and Dijit. The system will be available for demonstration during CES, beginning January 6th, in the Griffin booth, iLounge Pavilion — North Hall #4727, and in the Dijit booth, iLounge Pavilion — North Hall #4137.

“Beacon allows control over the entire home theater setup, all from a pocket-sized device,” said Matt Brown, Director of Product Development at Griffin. “Together with Dijit, we have created a powerful tool that really simplifies the entertainment experience by providing a customized program guide for all of your content in the home.”

“Our partnership with Griffin Technology is making it possible for consumers to easily control their entertainment content from any iOS or smartphone device,” said Maksim Ioffe, Founder and CEO of Dijit. “The Beacon brings flawless fingertip search and discovery of all of your entertainment content all from your smartphone.”

Beacon turns an iOS or smartphone device into a handy, easy-to-use remote for home entertainment systems by converting Bluetooth signals from your device to the infrared commands your components are expecting. Beacon pairs your iOS device or smartphone with Dijit’s Universal Remote App, putting complete control of your home entertainment center in the palm of your hand. There are no bulky cases or dongles, no messy wires or cables.

Setup and pairing is simple. Paired with Beacon via Bluetooth, your smartphone is just a few taps away from using Dijit’s intuitive Programming Guide. Your Multi-Touch or touch screen display is the remote. You can change channels, volume, input, program your DVR, and lots, lots more.

The Dijit app uses a constantly updated device code library to make setting up controls for your TV, set-top box, sound system, media players and more simple and intuitive. For components not yet included in Dijit’s library, the app also includes an integrated learning feature.

Key Features:

Wireless universal audio/video controller for iOS and other smartphone platforms
Low-profile component designed to blend unobtrusively with any decor on your coffee table
Use your iOS or smartphone device as a powerful universal remote control, without dongles or cases
Converts Bluetooth signals from your iOS or smartphone device to infrared signals required to control AV components
For use with Dijit’s Universal Remote app, a free download from the App Store
No wires or power cables; runs up to two months on 4 AA batteries
Pricing and Availability
Beacon, $79.99, will be available May 2011.

AT&T has slashed pricing on the iPhone 3GS, pushing the last-gen Apple smartphone down to just $49 with a new agreement. Previously $99, the new pricing will take affect from Friday, January 7, and be available to both new and upgrading customers.

As for the necessary plan, that has to include at least a $39.99 per month voice plan paired with at least a $15/mo data plan (which gets you a mere 200MB per month). Frankly we’d still spend the extra on an iPhone 4 if we’d settled on going the Apple way; the Retina Display and faster processor really will make a difference over the two years you’ll be using the device.

Press Release:

AT&T Announces iPhone 3GS for $49.00

AT&T* today announced a new price for the popular iPhone 3GS – $49.00 – available beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 7, for both new and upgrade-eligible existing AT&T customers. The offer will be available online at www.att.com/iphone, across more than 2,200 AT&T retail locations nationwide and through AT&T business channels, as well as Apple channels.**

Available only on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, iPhone 3GS delivers the following advantages unique to AT&T and its customers:

Allows for true smartphone multi-tasking, such as talking and using applications at the same time, on AT&T’s mobile broadband network
Provides access to our entire national Wi-Fi network with nearly 23,000 hotspots
Provides the best global coverage with wireless voice and data access in more than 200 countries
“We want to deliver the best, most complete package for our customers – from price, to speed, to worldwide access and more,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Combined with our new, lower monthly data plans beginning at just $15 a month, this new price brings even more value to one of the most popular devices in our leading lineup of smartphones. We’re very excited for more people to experience iPhone on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network.”

iPhone 3GS gives users access to the latest iPhone iOS 4 software plus the revolutionary App Store. Additional information is available at http://www.apple.com/.

*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.

**Price for 3GS sold in Apple channels is determined by Apple.

Requires new 2-year wireless voice agmt of $39.99 or higher with min $15/mo plan. Subject to wireless customer agrmt. Internal roaming rates or charges apply. Credit approval req’d. Activ. fee up to $36/line. Coverage & svcs, including mobile broadband, not avail everywhere. Geographic, usage & other conditions & restrictions (that may result in svc termination) apply. Taxes & other chrgs apply. See store or visit att.com for details and coverage map. Early Termination Fee (ETF): None if cancelled during first 30 days, but a $35 restocking fee may apply; after 30 days, ETF up to $325 applies (details att.com/equipmentETF). Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help defray costs of complying with gov’t obligations & chrgs on AT&T & is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg. Wi-Fi: Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.