Ideas Welcome. Innovation Encouraged. New Center for Citywide Collaboration on the Way

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh on the heels of rolling out one of the fastest broadband speeds Austin consumers have ever experienced, AT&T* today announced plans to invest in several new technology and community driven initiatives.  Among the activities includes opening a new center for technology innovation and collaboration in Austin, awarding a series of technology endowments, a commitment to continued collaboration with the University of Texas, and sponsoring the 10^th anniversary of one of the city's most beloved arts festivals.

As a cornerstone of this multi-million dollar community initiative, AT&T today confirmed plans to open a new center for innovation in the heart of the city. Areas of focus are expected to include education, data analytics, next generation video and a variety of mobile applications and solutions. The facility is also expected to house a studio where community members will be invited to create unique content for AT&T's platforms, including TV, online and mobile.

"The new AT&T center is being designed to help connect Austin in new and rewarding ways based on community member input," said Dahna Hull, vice president and general manager, Austin, AT&T Services, Inc. "When you put great minds together, the potential to enhance our way of life is endless. We can't wait to hear from and collaborate with Austinites as we move this program forward."

When AT&T announced plans in 2013 to roll out its all-fiber AT&T U-verse® with GigaPower^SM service, the company said it would look for new ways to work with leaders and citizens to leverage the lightning fast broadband and advanced TV services to further the citywide technology ecosystem and build on the progressive nature of the community. 

The new center for innovation, to be designed with input from community leaders, residents, educators, technologists, and entrepreneurs, is intended to serve as a gathering place for new ideas, new partnerships, new innovation, and real working solutions – all to leverage the best of Austin and make it an even more livable city.

"Opening a center for innovation in the heart of the city will create even greater opportunities for Austin's entrepreneurs, technology developers, and students," said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell.  "AT&T will have an opportunity to work closely with the many talents in our city, and the community stands to benefit from the exciting collaboration that will take place in this facility.  We are fortunate to have companies like AT&T that appreciate our culture and invest in our future."

In addition to the center for innovation, AT&T announced plans to award endowments to local technology organizations – the Austin Technology Council, the Austin Technology Institute, Capital Factory, Entrepreneurs Foundation, and the Tech Ranch – all focused on helping technology companies in Austin.

The community investment initiative will also support the 10-year anniversary of the Austin Fusebox Festival, a 12-day hybrid arts festival promoting local culture, arts and technology, planned for April 2014. As the exclusive corporate underwriter of the event, AT&T and other donors are ensuring festival goers will benefit from free admittance to Fusebox performances during the nearly two week event. 

AT&T also committed to continued collaboration with UT in areas of research and innovation.

"This is just the beginning of what we have in store for Austin," Hull said. "We're looking forward to the fresh, forward thinking that we know this community offers.  If there's a challenge that we can conquer with technology, let's make it a priority in the new innovation center and see what can be done. This is about connecting Austin in new and rewarding ways, at the direction of community members."

AT&T introduced AT&T U-verse with GigaPower broadband and TV services to thousands of Austin residents in December. Last month, the company said it plans to double the number of households it reaches in 2014 and will increase current broadband speeds of up to 300 megabits per second to up to 1 gigabit per second this year.** Information is available at www.att.com/gigapower

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary based on factors including site traffic, content provider server capacity, device capabilities, and use of other U-verse services.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.