Goodbye AT&T CallVantage, Hello U-verse Voice?

Telco Working on VoIP Strategy

AT&T Inc. (T) has ceased taking new orders for its popular, four-year old, VoIP calling service in what could be a signal that the telco is shifting its emphasis to other voice offerings for residential and business customers.

On the CallVantage page on its website, the telco posted a message that reads, “Currently we are not accepting new orders for AT&T CallVantage service. We will continue to evaluate our AT&T CallVantage service and remain committed to providing leading, next generation voice services for today's consumer and business customers.”

The web page did not provide additional data, but did direct those seeking information on other AT&T products and services to its corporate homepage.

Launched in 2004, the VoIP package provides unlimited local and long distance calling, attractive pricing and a series of features. AT&T has enhanced the service over the years with options such as softphone capability.

The role of CallVantage came into question in January, when AT&T began announcing deployments of U-verse Voice, the third element of the IP-based TV and Internet triple play bundle. In recent weeks, the telco has announced numerous deployments of U-verse Voice in its territory.

Perhaps speaking to the popularity of CallVantage, AT&T did not launch U-verse Voice until roughly 18 months after its flagship U-verse TV offering. The newer service is a managed VoIP offering that runs over the carrier’s IP network, rather than the public Internet.

While AT&T and other telcos have been attacking rival cablecos with TV and high-speed Internet, cable giants have made huge strides in selling cable-based digital voice services. Cable giants such as Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) have long had VoIP service as part of their triple play bundles.

U-verse Voice brings together AT&T home phone, wireless, broadband and TV services, on one bill, with unique features that provide a new level of integration, convenience and control, said AT&T in a press release Aug. 13 announcing the service’s availability in parts of Wisconsin.

"AT&T U-verse Voice is one more way we're making all of our AT&T services work together for our customers and connecting them to their world," said John DeVaul, AT&T general manager for Wisconsin, in prepared comments. "U-verse Voice uses the power of IP to enhance the calling experience.”

AT&T describes U-verse Voice as “a managed IP-based service that is delivered over AT&T's fiber-rich network, unlike many [VoIP] providers that offer best-effort digital phone services over the public Internet. “This allows U-verse Voice customers to enjoy great sound quality and reliability, as well as unmatched calling features that combine with your AT&T U-verse TV, broadband and wireless services from AT&T.”

Given that more consumers are replacing home phone lines with wireless links, combined with AT&T’s vast wireless service and network assets, integration with other services could prove alluring to CallVantage customers.

The telco says U-verse Voice and AT&T wireless voice mail are combined with U-verse Messaging, which provides a single voice mailbox that can be accessed from any phone line or PC. Another feature AT&T touts is U-verse Central, an online-management portal that lets customers manage “call preferences, voice mail, contacts, call history and more from any PC, in addition to the ability to control call preferences from your home phone.

AT&T says U-verse TV customers can choose from two calling plans: U-verse Voice Unlimited, which includes unlimited local and nationwide minutes to any location in the U.S., Canada or U.S. territories for $40 a month; and U-verse Voice 1000, which includes 1,000 Call Anywhere minutes to any location in the U.S. or U.S. territories for $30 a month.

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