I'm usually not too fond of carrier's bloatware, manufacturer's skins, and other causes of lag and potential frustration for end users (not to mention that I'm especially skeptical when it's coming from AT&T), but AT&T's new U-verse Mobile app for Android isn't looking too bad. To be clear, this isn't anything new; the app's already been available for the iPhone, the Blackberry, and the Xbox 360 in addition to being available on Windows Phone 7 devices at launch, but now it's made its way to our operating system of choice!

The app is only relevant to U-verse subscribers, and rather than allowing users to actually watch TV over a 3G connection, AT&T merely allows its minions to:

  • manage DVR recordings
  • browse the U-verse TV program guide

Literally, that's it - unless you're on WiFi, in which case you can download (not stream) the content to your device. You could argue that I'm being a bit harsh on AT&T here, but frankly, the one time I'm willing to let my eyes suffer from watching video on such a small screen is when I'm mobile - aka over 3G. Another disclaimer? It's only available on four devices: the Samsung Captivate, the HTC Aria, the Motorola Bravo, and the Motorola Flipside. That means all you Backflip and Flipout users can just forget about it. That is, of course, until the folks over at xda-developers can do something about it.

Full press release below.

AT&T Expands U-verse Mobile to Android Devices

U-verse Mobile Now Available for U-verse TV Customers with the Samsung Captivate, HTC Aria; Coming to the Motorola BRAVO, Motorola FLIPSIDE

DALLAS, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* today launched AT&T U-verse® Mobile for several Android devices(TM), including the Samsung Captivate(TM), HTC Aria, and coming soon, the Motorola BRAVO™ and Motorola FLIPSIDE™. U-verse Mobile is available today for AT&T Mobility customers on Android Market(TM), and is another example of how AT&T is delivering more TV content to customers across multiple devices and platforms.

With the Android device launches, U-verse Mobile is available on four mobile operating systems and will continue to expand to more devices in the future. U-verse Mobile is an app that lets U-verse TV subscribers browse the U-verse TV program guide, schedule and manage their DVR recordings, and for subscribers with qualifying TV plans, download hit TV shows over any Wi-Fi connection, and watch them on their qualifying smartphone from anywhere.

“We continue to innovate and integrate across devices, and we’re proud to bring the popular U-verse Mobile app to Android users,” said Jeff Weber, vice president of video services, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “We’re already ahead of our competitors in delivering TV content across screens, and we’ll keep focusing on bringing content to customers in new ways.”

To enjoy U-verse Mobile content, you can browse or search a library of downloadable shows, and select which series or specific episode you want to download. The content is downloaded to your mobile phone over a Wi-Fi connection. All AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet customers have home Wi-Fi installed as part of their service and get access to AT&T’s entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost.

The app is available to all U-verse TV customers, and the ability to download and watch select content is available for customers that subscribe to the U300 package or higher. U-verse customers can upgrade their TV packages at any time with the Account Manager app on channel 9910 or at AT&T U-verse.

AT&T continues to expand TV watching to the devices that matter most to you, with hit TV shows available on U-verse TV, U-verse Online, U-verse TV on Xbox 360, and several smartphones with U-verse Mobile.

U-verse Mobile is the latest way that AT&T is mobilizing everything that’s important to customers – their favorite content, apps, entertainment and social networks. AT&T today delivers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network as well as the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.

AT&T U-verse TV is the only 100 percent Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service offered by a national service provider, making AT&T U-verse one of the most dynamic and feature-rich services available today. AT&T U-verse TV ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the North Central, South and West Regions,” according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Residential Television Service Provider Satisfaction Studies(SM). For additional information on AT&T U-verse – or to find out if it’s available in your area – visit AT&T U-verse.

Source: AT&T Inc.