Hoping to hit its goal of one million U-verse TV customers by yearend, AT&T Inc. (T) has announced deals with Circuit City and Wal-Mart to sell its U-verse TV and High Speed Internet in more than 600 locations starting this month.
While the operator says these agreements are the first national retail deals for AT&T U-verse, creating a powerful new distribution channel for the services, they’ll be sharing the retail distribution pie with Verizon, cablecos and even satellite service providers.
Customers will be able to learn more about AT&T U-verse TV and AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet at in-store kiosks and from sales associates. For example, Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) seems ubiquitous in the retail territory of Greater Boston, in some cases selling FiOS from its wireless stores and kiosks, and in other cases setting up its own stores. Also, buying cable modem service in retail chains is far from new.
The triple play provider did not say if special deals, discounts, term arrangements or equipment packages will be offered in the retail chains as part of the new distribution channel for U-verse.
Nonetheless, taking U-verse to the retail space can only extend the services’ presence and provide basic information to those that need greater knowledge to compare offerings and/or make a buying decision.
“We’ve been expanding U-verse availability at a rapid pace, and now we’re expanding the way millions of consumers can learn about the benefits of AT&T U-verse and order the service,” said Glenn Lurie, president, National Distribution, AT&T, in prepared comments.
AT&T said U-verse TV and AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet will be offered at Circuit City and Wal-Mart stores located near neighborhoods where U-verse services are available in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Additional locations will be added in the future.
