Wave: Convergence is certainly the hot buzzword in communications today. How does AT&T define convergence?
Mr. Whitacre: I know what everyone says it is, but I’d be at a loss if I had to define it precisely. Everyone has his own definition. To me, convergence is bringing together the service and capabilities of wireless and wireline technologies. It’s the foundation of our three-screen strategy to give customers a consistent experience and consistent capabilities on the screens they use most — wireless device, TV, and computer. So, you’re never out of touch. It’s all on one bill, anything you want. Wireless and wireline technology, from the customer’s perspective, is somehow magically converged, and it becomes the total communications system for you and me. But it’s really tough to define.
Wave: Is it easier to define the role of the telecommunications provider today or what you think that role will look like tomorrow?
Mr. Whitacre: I can do that for AT&T. We want to be the only company customers need for their communications and entertainment needs, and for us that’s IPTV, wireline and wireless services, and broadband. Whatever a customer might need in the communications and entertainment area, we want to provide that.
Wave: I saw that on a sign in the lobby downstairs.
Mr. Whitacre: Did you?
Wave: Yes. It’s up on the wall there in the computer room.
Mr. Whitacre: (smiling) That’s good to know it’s out somewhere.
Wave: I believe the word is definitely getting out in a few other places.
Mr. Whitacre: (smiling again) That’s not bad either. Now, I don’t mean to be flippant about convergence, but it is just a hard thing to define. I don’t think anybody’s quite been able to do that yet, but it’s somehow the melding of wireline and wireless, broadband, all that stuff meeting the total needs of the customer. It is multi-dimensional, and that makes it even harder to define.
