So you have your phone bill from one company and your home internet from another, and you're constantly switching between apps and websites to figure out what you're paying for and why your Wi-Fi is slow. AT&T (T) thinks it has a solution for that—at least, if you're one of its customers.
The telecom giant rolled out a new app on Wednesday that aims to put control of both your wireless and home internet services in one place. It's powered by AI, which in this case means an assistant to help you troubleshoot and get insights into your usage. The idea is pretty simple: make it easier for people to manage the digital plumbing of their lives.
And AT&T has a lot of people to manage. The company says over 100 million U.S. families and nearly 2.5 million businesses use its services. That's a big pool of potential app users, and the app is designed to let them do everything from checking data usage to controlling connected devices. New customers can even shop and sign up for trials directly through the app.
"We're focused on giving customers simplicity and control, which is what they've told us they want," said Jenifer Robertson, AT&T's EVP and GM for Mass Markets. The app features a modern design and is part of what the company calls its "digital transformation"—basically, trying to make interacting with a giant telecom feel less like dealing with a giant telecom.
This isn't just about a nicer app icon. It's a strategic move for AT&T as it tries to serve what it calls "converged" customers—people who use both its wireless and home internet services. By providing a single platform, AT&T hopes to make its bundle stickier and more valuable. The company is also leaning on its network reputation, noting that AT&T Fiber is recognized as the best and fastest home internet service, and backing the whole experience with its AT&T Guarantee for service quality.
You can download the app now from the App Store, Google Play, or ATT.com. As for the stock, shares of AT&T were down 0.92% at $27.59 when the news broke, according to market data.
