RSSMicrosoft's Surface to get test run in AT&T stores
By Ed Oswald | Published April 2, 2008, 12:47 PM
Microsoft's Surface touch screen technology will be deployed in select AT&T Wireless stores beginning April 17, and expanded to other stores throughout the year, the Redmond company said Wednesday.
AT&T locations in New York City, Atlanta, San Antonio, and San Francisco will be the first to use Surface. The Surface technology will allow customers to learn more about devices, as well as get information on the phone, coverage area, and other aspects of AT&T service.
In the future, the two companies plan to allow customers to place their phones and actually drag and drop content such as ringtones, graphics, and video to their devices.
Like a giant table-top iPhone interface, Surface uses a 30-inch display and various input methods including touch, gestures, and placement of objects on the display to navigate and receive information.
A marketing document released at WinHEC last year explains that a Surface device "turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it's a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more."
Above and beyond the interactivity listed above, the two companies plan to use the test to look into other ways the technology can be used.
AT&T has about 2,200 company-owned stores, but rollout will be dependent on the success of the trials in the initial launch cities. The wireless carrier says Surface will become an integral part of the sales process.
Rival operator T-Mobile -- one of the initial companies listed as an initial Microsoft partner on Surface -- is considering the technology as well, but has not said whether it actually roll it out. Harrah's and Starwood Hotels were also named as Surface partners.
The Iphone was only a gas bubble in Stevie's belly when this came to fruition
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This has been in development for a long time. Probably before the Iphone was even thought of. The Microsoft Surface site has been live for at least over a year advertising its capabilities, which is totally different than anything Apple has done.
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apple will copy and all the mac/apple zealots will say apple invented it...regardless of prior numerous photos, press, etc etc ;)
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iPhone tech gets copied AGAIN! go figure...
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The Cisco Systems iPhone?
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The Gods told us to create something so we created something cool, but we don't quite know what it's for... lol
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"The Gods told us to create something so we created something cool, but we don't quite know what it's for... lol"
Comment of the year! Awesome! rofl.
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I would really like to know how the surface device knows what the object you sit on it is. And how to sync with it from just the placement of it.. Technology is getting amazing now.
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