Wave: I think a lot of people use it.
Mr. Whitacre: I think so, too. But I don’t think it’s 100 percent. I don’t
think everybody that has a cell phone has a huge desire for a camera. Certainly enough do, so it’s a nice option to have. But whatever it is you’re providing for people to do with their devices, you have to make it simple and usable.
Wave: Where does keeping it simple rate with you?
Mr. Whitacre: It’s tremendously important in my mind because I relate it to my ability to use the device, and if it’s not simple I’m not going to do it. Kids will, I imagine. I guess it runs the continuum really, but simple is really
important I think. The simpler, the better.
Wave: We’ve talked a lot about consumers, but haven’t really touched on enterprise customers. What is AT&T thinking about regarding what wireless can do for them?
Mr. Whitacre: Wireless in the enterprise has a huge upside and is probably under-utilized there now. I think the combination of a business wireline and wireless could be pretty exciting to any business.
We’ve not been as good as we can be until now, but we’re going to be real good at it very soon. I think it has great possibilities, and the businesses I have talked to are very desirous of the ability to do this in lots of applications. Inventory tracking, fleet management, a remote workforce… there’s just a huge market there.
Wave: A few moments ago you were talking about keeping things simple. I’m wondering what kinds of things you do with your device. Do you text-message?
Mr. Whitacre: Yes.
Wave: How long did it take you to get the feel for that?
Mr. Whitacre: Not long. That’s pretty easy. I’m great at sending text messages. I’m great at making phone calls. I can even get by with e-mails. Beyond that, it gets tougher for me. I really believe, though, that some pretty incredible things are coming. For example, it won’t be long before you’re out and about and maybe your
wife’s at the grocery store, and a certain person calls your home that maybe you both need to talk to. Your home phone will automatically know that and send the call to you, maybe to both of you. They say these things are going to replace laptops, and they just might be right. It will all be right there in the palm of your hand.
AT&T Chairman & CEO Ed Whitacre
Now that AT&T has completed its deal to buy Bellsouth, wireless is at the heart of the new company's plans for the future. Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre talks about the new AT&T and shares his thoughts about net neutrality, convergence, rebranding, and much more!
Click here to listen.
