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CES 2012: AT&T speaks directly to developer crowd with new API Platform

By | January 9, 2012, 11:03am PST

Summary: AT&T did unveil half a dozen new Android smartphones for its LTE network, but the nation’s second largest mobile provider seemed more interested in developers on Monday.

LAS VEGAS — Although the most anticipated topic to be covered at AT&T’s Developer Summit on Monday was arguably new Android LTE smartphones, the mobile provider paid more attention to the needs of developers than anything else.

See also: CES 2012: More ZDNet coverage | CNET coverage | Mary Jo Foley: AT&T shows off coming new Windows Phones at CES | Matt Miller: Samsung Galaxy Note coming to AT&T with LTE

Enter AT&T’s new API platform, which trotted out during the press conference being held nearby but offsite from CES Press Day.

Basically, the platform was designed to provide tools that enable developers to build more efficient apps — at least where data usage and battery life are concerned. In a way, that speaks directly to consumers as well — especially the data concerns considering that usage rates and costs are only going up.

AT&T also demonstrated its interest in HTML5 with added support for rerouting charges to an AT&T’s subscriber’s monthly bill directly from a browser-based app.

Finally, the third major gift for developers is the new AT&T Cloud Architect, a cloud space with private and public options for developers to use for both storage and infrastructure as-a-service.

The only introduction that might incite skepticism is AT&T’s new planned App Store. One could argue that the mobile app store sector is already crowded as well as ruled by two major online stores already: iTunes and the Android Market.

Thus, why do we need another app store at all? Well, the AT&T App Store’s focus will be on HTML5 apps, an interesting twist that might give AT&T an edge over other mobile app markets that focus on single operating systems.

For a closer look at AT&T’s new API platform, check out the promo video below:

Related:

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Smart TV, API, AT&T Corp., Future Television, TVs, Tv & Home Theater, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Rachel King

Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet based in San Francisco.

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Rachel King

Rachel King has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted in this blog.

Biography

Rachel King

Rachel King is a staff writer for CBS Interactive in San Francisco. Before serving as a contributing editor at ZDNet in New York City for two years, she previously worked for The Business Insider, FastCompany.com, CNN's San Francisco bureau and the U.S. Department of State. Rachel has also written for MainStreet.com, Irish America Magazine and the New York Daily News, among others. Rachel has a B.A. in Mass Communications and History from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, where she served as art director for the student magazine, Plated.

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RE: CES 2012: AT&T speaks directly to developer crowd with new API Platform
gostars 10th Jan
@M.W.Jones

I too have a AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, as with any application (bloatware or otherwise) you have three options. I'll list them based on how drastic, before the options first I'd recommend downloanding the "Advanced Task Killer" app by "ReChild" from the Android marketplace.

Options
1.) Use "Advanced Task Killer" app to "kill" the AT&T Mark the Spot app or any other app you want stopped. Three apps you don't want to stop are the "Advanced Task Killer", "Android Market" & "Gallery". Otherwise will depend on apps you've downloaded.

2.) Go to Settings
choose Applications
then Manage applications
choose app you want to change in this case "AT&T Mark the Spot"
choose "Force stop"

3.) Go to Settings
choose Applications
then Manage applications
choose app you want to change in this case "AT&T Mark the Spot"
choose "Uninstall" - this will completely remove the app from your phone. This is good for any app you consider bloatware or which you downloaded and no longer want. Be aware if you unistall an app and then decide you later want the app you will need to re download the app and pay any applicable data charges.

I have used Advanced Task Killer to stop the "AT&T Mark the spot" however I've never tried step 2 or 3 as I'm not looking to remove the app and never needed to force stop it. I have used these steps on other apps and had no problems and you shouldn't have any probelms doing so with this app if you so choose.
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RE: CES 2012: AT&T speaks directly to developer crowd with new API Platform
M.W.Jones 9th Jan
It sounds like AT&T's own developers need to use this new API. I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 that AT&T's loaded with bloatware, and by far the biggest battery hog is the AT&T "Marks The Spot" network monitoring tool. With no way to shut it down or remove it, it has been the drain on my battery.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: CES 2012: AT&T speaks directly to developer crowd with new API Platform
gostars 10th Jan
@M.W.Jones

I too have a AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, as with any application (bloatware or otherwise) you have three options. I'll list them based on how drastic, before the options first I'd recommend downloanding the "Advanced Task Killer" app by "ReChild" from the Android marketplace.

Options
1.) Use "Advanced Task Killer" app to "kill" the AT&T Mark the Spot app or any other app you want stopped. Three apps you don't want to stop are the "Advanced Task Killer", "Android Market" & "Gallery". Otherwise will depend on apps you've downloaded.

2.) Go to Settings
choose Applications
then Manage applications
choose app you want to change in this case "AT&T Mark the Spot"
choose "Force stop"

3.) Go to Settings
choose Applications
then Manage applications
choose app you want to change in this case "AT&T Mark the Spot"
choose "Uninstall" - this will completely remove the app from your phone. This is good for any app you consider bloatware or which you downloaded and no longer want. Be aware if you unistall an app and then decide you later want the app you will need to re download the app and pay any applicable data charges.

I have used Advanced Task Killer to stop the "AT&T Mark the spot" however I've never tried step 2 or 3 as I'm not looking to remove the app and never needed to force stop it. I have used these steps on other apps and had no problems and you shouldn't have any probelms doing so with this app if you so choose.

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