GoPhone is the trademark for AT&T Mobility’s pay-as-you-go (PAYG) service. The GoPhone trademark was acquired by Cingular in its merger with AT&T Wireless. Unlike many other PAYG services when GoPhone was acquired by Cingular they began to offer two options; the first is a conventional card-based PAYG service, for which the customer purchases a reload card with a preloaded dollar amount, which is then deducted from an account based on usage. The second, called Pick Your Plan(PYP), is prepaid, but has features which are more similar to conventional post-paid calling plans and is automatically billed every month. This variation was added on by Cingular. PYP includes Cingular’s Rollover Balance which allows customers to preserve unused account balance for up to a full year (vs. 3-6 months for other carriers’ prepaid services; T-mobile To Go is an exception, giving a one year expiration for any recharge once $100 has been purchased in the life of the account, under the name Gold Rewards). Payments for both the PYP and PAYG are handled by Vesta, a payment processor for many cell phone companies and MVNOs
AT&T GoPhone Pick Your Plan
In mid 2006 Cingular decided to offer its popular MEdia Net plans on Cingulars PYP GoPhone service. Using PYP requires automatic payment with either a credit/debit card, or ACH from a checking account. If the payment fails, the customer must call and make payment within 4 days, or they lose their “roll-over” minutes.
Since the consolidation of Cingular and AT&T Inc, the company has begun offering prepaid data options on Pay As You Go. Data rates run from $4.99 for 1 MB of data, to 5 MB for $9.99, up to unlimited data usage for $19.99 per month. These so-called Feature Packs, can be added to a user’s account monthly by calling 611. The data plans do not renew automatically.
Some users have noted that since GoPhone can be used with any compatible GSM or UMTS device (unlocked to AT&T), that the unlimited prepaid data can now be used as a data-only option (for use with smartphones and mobile broadband cards). This effectively dramatically lowers the cost of data versus the typical wireless data plan.
AT&T GoPhones
* Any AT&T, Cingular or Unlocked GSM handset supporting the 850 MHz band.
As GoPhone accounts are not authorized to roam on the 1900 MHz T-Mobile GSM network, handsets lacking the 850 MHz band will perform poorly if they get a signal at all. This limitation applies to many tri-band European handsets that only support the 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz GSM bands.
Ordering Problems
ATT Wireless frequently rejects online GoPhone orders stating that the individuals credit history could not be verified, even though it is a prepaid service that does not require a credit history check. This “credit history verification” is thought to help seek out terrorists that use prepaid phones for communication. (citation needed.)
We’ll only display one ad per search query for advertisers sharing the same top-level domain in the display URL. This means that if you’re an affiliate advertiser, your ad may not show for a query because another affiliate or the website that runs the affiliate program also has ads using the same (or a similar) domain in the display URL. Also, your site should not mirror (be similar or nearly identical in appearance to) your parent company’s or another advertiser’s site.
For example, for the domain google.com, we would determine the following URLs and display URLs to be equivalent:
home.google.com
www.google.com
google.com
www.google.com/home
www.Google.com
However, we’d determine the following display URLs to be distinct, since each has a different top-level domain:
www.google.co.uk*
www.google.fr
www.google.com
www.google.edu *Domains with a specific extension are considered distinct.
This is the URL displayed on your ad to identify your site to users. This URL displayed is limited to 35 characters; it need not be the same as the URL your ad links to, but it should be an actual URL that is part of your site.
Domain
Website domains are a naming procedure by which web users may identify a particular website address and location (e.g., www.google.com). They are usually made up of two parts: a name and a category. The following are common URL domain categories: .com (commercial), .edu (education), and .gov (government). Domain categories can also be location-specific, for example: .fr (France) , .br (Brazil), or .jp (Japan). In some cases, one category is appended to another category, for example: examplename.co.uk, examplename.com.ph, examplename.org.uk).
Ajax Comment Preview - Allows readers to preview their comment before submitting.
asTunes - Retrieves data from your Audioscrobbler/last.fm profile and posts it as a list on your blog.
Codebox - Side scrolling box for displaying code snippets.
Crossroads - Adds thumbnails and comments from your Flickr account.
FireStats - Full featured statistics including referrers and popular pages.
Google PageRank - Allows you to display your Google Page rank on your blog.
Hardened-Trackback - Generates a single use trackback to help fight trackback spam.
imgViewJX - Refreshes an image on your main page from a selected directory.
Live Spell Checker - Adds a spell checker to the admin area to check your posts with.
Plug ‘n’ Play Google Map - Adds any post you make with longitude and latitude to a Google Map on a separate page. Very useful for blogs writing restaurant reviews or about events.
Wordpress Mailing List - Have a mailing list? Let readers subscribe and unsubscribe simply from the front page of your site.
WP e-Commerce - Adds a shopping cart to your WordPress powered site.
WP-Polls - Adds fully customizable polls for your readers to take.
AJAX Shoutbox - Realtime conversation with sound to alert of new messages.
Cool Weather - Allows visitors to see the weather forecast for any area they define.
Currency Converter - Adds a real time currency converter to the page with data pulled from Yahoo Finance.
Google AJAX Search - Allows you to set search for just the contents of your site and the web, or another option allows for search of a second site such as your Flickr account.
Google MapSearch Widget - Allows readers to search Google Maps without ever leaving the page.
Gregarious - Social bookmarking plugin that adds Digg, Reddit, Feedburner FeedFlare buttons and more.
Hottaimoijiruna - Adds a self-updating clock to the site for a timezone defined by the blogger.
Inline Ajax Comments - Hides comments until the user clicks on them, and then they fade-in with no reload.
Inline Ajax Page - Allows readers to see a snippet of a post, click a button and the remainder will appear without going to another page.
Tagboard Widget - Adds an auto-updating tagboard to your site that displays new messages as they are posted.
Units Converter - Converts hundreds of different units of Length, Area, Volume, Weight / Mass, Speed without reloading the page.
WP Movie Ratings - Combines data from IMDB with the bloggers movie review and lets the readers add their own rating instantly.
XDTalk - Allows real-time conversation between registered users.
For Sales, Live Demos, Licensing, Support, Downloadable Technical Information, as well as recent Press Releases and Customer Names of AT&TNV Adopter/Users, please contact Wizzard Software or visit http://www.naturalvoices.att.com.
Please be advised that differences may be noted between the released NV 1.4 product and the demo on this Research site.
What is TTS?
TTS, or Text-To-Speech, is the creation of audible speech from computer readable text. There is more background in the FAQ.
Our research group’s charter is to increase the naturalness of speech synthesis significantly while maintaining good intelligibility. Next-Generation TTS was introduced in 1998 and marked a dramatic leap in naturalness. Now called AT&T Natural Voices™, it is still broadening the range of applications in which TTS can be deployed.
In some cases, such as telephone response, a TTS voice may supply the only feedback a user gets, and the quality of an entire service may be judged by that voice. TTS is closest to the customer’s ear.(R)
Credits
> TV Commercial Highlights AT&T Voice Technology
In April 2006 AT&T launched a national television commercial highlighting voice technology, its long development history within AT&T, and its use in current services. The robot hand at the beginning is demonstrating the Voder (”VOice coDER”), shown by Homer Dudley at the 1939 World’s Fair. A human operator used the contols to manually control the sound output.
Please note the following regarding some of the material appearing in this AVI video clip:
(c) 2006 AT&T Operations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. WarGames TM & (c) 1983 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM & (c) H-B. TM @ (c) Turner Ent. Co. (s06)
> Red Planet
Red Planet, the Warner Bros. movie released on 11/09/2000, uses our TTS as the voices of the space ship (female) and the astronauts’ space suits (male). Here’s the press release.
> I Am Sam
This movie, starring Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer, used our “Crystal” as the voice of Pfeiffer’s voice-activated cell phone. Please note that we take no responsiblity for the infuriatingly inaccurate speech recognition in the movie
> Discover Magazine
Discover magazine describes synthesized speech as both a triumph of technology and the fruition of a very old dream. The article follows the evolution of AT&T Natural Voices™, the productized version of our work.
Unfortunately, the article credits us with inventing just about every facet of modern TTS technology. As I understand it, AT&T was asked to verify certain facts but did not get to preview the article prior to publication. (In fact, my mother-in-law read it long before any of us.) We take some comfort knowing that people active in the field are well aware who invented what. And I’m sure our friends and colleagues will refresh our memories from time to time
Let Your Application Speak For Itself!
TTS technology can be useful whenever a computerized application needs to communicate with a customer or user, and so is especially useful in telephone services. Though recorded material still provides the highest quality, recordings are often impractical due to cost or time constraints. Some typical uses for TTS technology are:
* customer support dialog systems, e.g. help desks
* interactive voice response (IVR), e.g. banking, class enrollment
* unified messaging, especially email reading
* screen reader programs for the sight-impaired
2-year contract and new activation required. Online offers are available for a limited time. Credit approval and other restrictions apply. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Service is not available in all areas. See coverage map for details. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated phone for certain customers. More bars claim compares AT&T’s network before to after merger.
In order to protect AT&T and its customers from fraudulent activity, we limit the number of phones and services that may be ordered online by a single individual or entity.
30 DAY RETURN POLICY
No early termination fee if cancelled in first 30 days. Thereafter, the fee will begin at $175 per device and decrease by $5 each month for the term of the agreement. Some agents impose additional fees.
Rollover® Minutes
Unused Anytime Minutes expire after the 12th billing period. Night and Weekend and Mobile to Mobile Minutes do not roll over.
MOBILE TO MOBILE MINUTES
Unlimited nationwide mobile to mobile available with plans starting at $39.99 with two year agreement.
FREE SHIPPING AND HANDLING
When activating select plans, you will receive FREE shipping and handling (a $9.95 value) when you order online. Your order will be processed within 3-5 business days and you will be notified via e-mail when it is complete.
REFURBISHED PHONES
Devices that are specified as refurbished or as refurbs are not new; they have been refurbished by an authorized service provider. Our standard return policy applies. Information about the applicable manufacturer’s warranty will be included with your device.
The trademarks and service marks used on this page are the property of the respective owners.
The good: Extremely portable design; excellent keyboard; fingerprint reader; integrated WWAN radio; great performance; incredibly long battery life when configured with high-capacity battery.
The bad: More expensive than comparable models; lacks built-in optical drive; lacks built-in support for ExpressCards.
The bottom line: The first ultraportable to accommodate Intel’s Core Duo processor, the ThinkPad X60s combines blazing performance and incredible battery life with a full feature set and a compact case. We like it.
* Reviewed by: Michelle Thatcher
* Edited by: Justin Jaffe
* Reviewed on: 03/22/2006
* Released on: 02/14/2006
The latest model in the ThinkPad X series, the ultraportable X60s is almost imperceptibly lighter and thinner than its predecessor, the ThinkPad X41. Though the X60s improves upon the previous generation by adding a few more features, including built-in WWAN connectivity and the latest Intel Core Duo processors, it still lacks the built-in optical drive found in smaller, lighter competitors, such as the Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P and the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120. And yet the ThinkPad X60s is as costly as the Sony and more expensive than the Fujitsu–our loaded test configuration cost $2,299. Still, the ThinkPad’s keyboard is larger than those laptops’, making it the better choice if comfortable typing is more valuable to you than viewing CDs and DVDs. In general, if you can do without a built-in optical drive, we think the ThinkPad X60s delivers a best-in-class balance of comfort, performance, battery life, and portability.
Measuring 10.5 inches wide, 8.3 inches deep, and 0.8 inch thick at the front (1.1 inches thick at the back), the ThinkPad X60s is nearly identical to its predecessor, the ThinkPad X41. The base X60s configuration weighs a spritely 2.7 pounds, though our test unit, which included an extended battery, weighed 3.5 pounds (the extended battery also adds 1 inch of depth and 0.4 inch of thickness at the back). The laptop’s diminutive AC adapter adds 0.7 pound to its total weight. The VAIO VGN-TX670 and the LifeBook P7120 are smaller and lighter and yet manage to incorporate an optical drive, though they also have smaller displays.
The ThinkPad X60s’s 12.1-inch display has a 1,024×768 native resolution that provides just enough screen real estate for basic business tasks and Web surfing; the Fujitsu’s and Sony’s smaller displays have slightly finer resolutions. Though most ultraportables sacrifice key size to fit a smaller case, the X60s’s keys are large and very comfortable for extended typing. Our only complaint is that the right-side Alt and Ctrl keys are a bit narrow–annoying if you’re accustomed to using shortcuts. As with all ThinkPads, the X60s includes a red TrackPoint pointing stick; beneath the keyboard are three mouse buttons (the center acts as a scroll button) and a fingerprint reader for security. Otherwise, you get just volume controls and a long, blue ThinkVantage button that launches system maintenance, connectivity, and other utilities. Tucked into the lid is a nifty light that illuminates the keyboard in dim environments.
Business travelers will find all the ports they need on the ThinkPad X60s: VGA, four-pin FireWire, and three USB 2.0 ports, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The laptop also includes slots for Type II PC Cards and Secure Digital cards, though ExpressCards require an adapter (not included). Aside from the aforementioned missing optical drive, the ThinkPad X60s’s connections match up well with those of both the VAIO VGN-TX670P and the LifeBook P7120. Our review model included the X6 Ultrabase docking station ($160 if you buy it as an option), which features a DVD/CD-RW drive in addition to a number of other ports and connections.
Like the Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P, the ThinkPad X60s offers the maximum degree of connectivity, with modem, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, and an integrated cellular radio (on select models, including our review unit) that connects to Verizon’s EV-DO data network. Though data plans are still expensive and throughput speeds are occasionally slow, this is a great feature for workers who need to stay connected at all costs.
Priced at $2,299, our ThinkPad X60s review unit featured a solid collection of the latest components, including an Intel Core Duo 1.66GHz processor; 512MB of fast 667MHz RAM; a midsize 80GB, 5,400rpm hard drive; and integrated Intel graphics. Based on its performance on CNET Labs’ mobile benchmarks, the ThinkPad X series realizes some significant performance gains with its Intel Core Duo processor. Its MobileMark score was 28 percent higher than the Pentium M-based Fujitsu LifeBook P7120’s and 32 percent higher than the Sony VAIO VGN-TX670P’s; the X60s also bested its predecessor, the 1.5GHz Pentium M-based ThinkPad X41, by 28 percent. Those speed gains are enough to notice with average use and will be particularly useful for multitasking. The X60s’s 8-hour, 16-minute battery life is the longest we’ve ever seen–very impressive, though not quite surprising, given that our review unit’s price included an 8-cell high-capacity battery. The battery costs $143 if you buy it as an option, and we think it’s worth it.
Like other ThinkPads, the X60s is backed by either a one-year or a three-year warranty, depending on the configuration you buy, and reasonably priced upgrades are available. Lenovo’s support Web site includes a handful of troubleshooting topics, as well as the expected driver downloads; the site lacks interactive features such as customer forums or the chance to chat in real time with a technician.
Mobile application performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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