Well, then, AT&T did not waste a moment.

Right after its closing in acquisition of DirecTV last month, the nation’s second-largest wireless carrier unveiled its first bundle of mobile and television services. The company is offering four wireless accounts with 10GB of sharable data and television service with high-definition video and digital video recording capabilities for four televisions for a promotional rate of $200 a month for the first year. The bundle will launch on August 10.

It marks the first time a company has been able to offer a bundle of wireless and television services throughout the nation, a move made possible with the combination of AT&T’s wireless assets with DirecTV’s nationwide satellite TV service. It also comes at a time when other providers are looking to augment their services, from Cablevision’s $10 wireless service to Verizon Wireless aiming to launch a mobile video service.

“Today is the first of many planned moves to enable our customers to enjoy a premium entertainment experience almost everywhere,” said Brad Bentley, chief marketing officer of AT&T Entertainment and Internet services.

AT&T said it has begun selling DirecTV service in more than 2,000 of its retail stores, some of which already offer its U-Verse TV service, available in select states where its landline business operates.

AT&T also listed out its television packages for DirecTV and U-Verse, which range between $50 and $125. If customers sign up for both the wireless and television service, they get a $10 discount, getting them to the monthly bill of $200 (that cost doesn’t factor in the instalment fees for the smartphones). AT&T said it will also offer a $300 bill credit when they buy an AT&T smartphone.

Also included in the regions where AT&T’s landline business operates is the offer to bundle Internet service, which ranges between $30 and $50.

AT&T is the latest company to try its hand at a bundle of wireless and video services. The cable companies have tried to offer their own wireless service years ago, but customers weren’t interested at the time. AT&T is betting that customers have changed their mind.

Categories: DISH & TV news