New AT&T cloud services target mass-market phones

AT&T announced a suite of new cloud-based data services promising to deliver smartphone-like messaging, video/photo sharing and contacts management experiences across a range of mass-market handsets. Introduced in conjunction with four new Quick Messaging devices--the Samsung Strive, the Samsung Sunburst, the Pantech Link and Pantech Pursuit--the new services include AT&T Mobile Share, which promises subscribers tools to transfer and manage their photos and videos across PCs and social networking accounts. In addition, consumers can access pictures and videos stored in their personal, web-based AT&T Locker at any time from any Internet connection or from their phone. AT&T Mobile Share offers 50 media transfers per month for $10; subscribers can also pay 35 cents per transfer. The service includes free online storage of 250MB, with an additional 10GB of storage available for $5 more per month.

AT&T will also roll out a cloud-based Address Book that syncs contacts online, allowing users to manage their contact list from their handset or PC. Synchronization occurs automatically when any change is made, guaranteeing contact information is always backed up--subscribers may also import contacts from other web-based address books like personal e-mail accounts, and send text messages to their contacts' mobile numbers. Also new: Next Generation Messaging, which updates the texting experience to include group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts as well as a threaded conversations format, consolidated inbox and enhanced multimedia display.

For more on AT&T's new data services:
- read this release

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