AT&T to offer TV channels on PCs

AT&T Inc. plans to offer its U-verse Internet television service through personal computers and wireless phones, adding more features to compete with cable providers such as Comcast Corp.

U-verse subscribers can get 28 channels through closely held MobiTV Inc. on their PCs, and the service will be available on handsets later, AT&T said Thursday in a statement. The company will sell the PC service under the AT&T brand starting at $10 a month.

AT&T, the largest U.S. phone company, has spent about $5 billion on the U-verse TV network to win customers from Comcast, relying less on subscribers for land line phone service after losing 227,000 in the latest quarter. Comcast introduced a digital phone service in 2005, which customers can buy at a discount in packages.

AT&T formed an agreement last year with Emeryville, Calif.-based MobiTV, which transmits TV and digital music service, to offer AT&T television across its wireless network. Thursday's deal gives subscribers access to more content, such as exclusive film trailers, AT&T spokesman Wes Warnock said.