AT&T brings U-verse TV to Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7

AT&T has announced that you will be able to use your Xbox 360 as a U-verse receiver and that U-verse Mobile will be heading to Windows Phone 7 this fall. For the former, you'll have to be a U-verse customer but for the latter it won't be a requirement.

AT&T is the first TV provider in the US to offer live TV service through an Xbox 360, replacing the need for an extra receiver in your home. New U-verse customers will be able to order a $99 Xbox kit (installation included) starting on October 15, while existing customers will apparently have to buy the kit (installation is an extra $55). The Xbox 360 U-verse receiver means being able to receive game and chat invitations from friends through Xbox Live while watching live TV, switching seamlessly from game to TV mode without changing video inputs on your TV screen, managing DVR recordings, accessing interactive apps, using your program guide, and using the On Demand library.

In November, the U-verse Mobile app will be preloaded on all AT&T Windows Phone 7 devices. To download and watch hit TV shows while they're on the go, non-customers will have to shell out $9.99 a month, while current U-verse users will be able to take advantage of the service for free. All AT&T U-verse TV customers can use U-verse Mobile to manage their DVR recordings.

On top of all the Microsoft goodness, AT&T is making the mobile app available nationwide, a first for the U-verse TV service, which is built on the Microsoft Mediaroom platform. The wireless company already touts the service as the country's fastest growing and top-rated TV service; the fact it's coming to more devices nationwide should help solidify that.