AT&T gets cloud syncing – makes messaging phones smarter

Today, in addition to the 4 new devices announced, AT&T offered up their plan to earn your quick messaging device dollars. In all, three new services are designed to make your low-cost device behave more like an expensive smartphone at a fraction of the cost. The services use the web in smart ways.

AT&T Address Book Sync

Today, and frankly much overdue, AT&T announced the addition of address book syncing via the internet. The phones address book will sync with AT&T online site and allow you to access these contacts online as well. That means no more phone-to-phone brain dumps, no more paying someone to off-load your contacts. Even better, the service is free and the syncing is automatic.

Next Generation Messaging

Messaging on AT&T phones just got a bit smarter. Adding the capability to text up to 10 numbers at once long with reply all, AT&T is encouraging users to make the most out of their messaging phones. Additonally, messages are now threaded or grouped together by subject so you can see what everyone is saying, not just the author of the last text. Getting everyone on the same page will be much easier with these new features.

AT&T Mobile Share

This $10 a month service might just be enough to help you avoid a smartphone data charge. AT&T offers up 250MB of free storage online allowing users to upload videos and pictures at full resolution and then simple distribution to social networking sites like Facebook or allowing them to be sent via email. Content in their online storage can be accessed anytime via online or from the handset. The $10 monthly fee includes 50 transfers. Ease of use is what AT&T is aiming for here as well as a way for messaging customers to edge closer to a full-time data connection.

Press release: [AT&T]