Hiya menik.

Let me preface this by saying that technically, I am supposed to know nothing about this system. I haven't even started my training as a U-Verse tech yet.

I Thought by now you'd have had a response, so I'm going to try to tackle one for you to get you your answers. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I say anything wrong.

That being said, I've done a LOT of technical research regarding this system in the past month in prep for training next week. So here goes…..

Basically, U-Verse is not a lot more than VDSL service brought to your home. Add Television, add VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephone capabilities. think of your television segment of U-Verse as a series of networked Set Top Boxes, including the one DVR you will get. The television signal travels across the network, and the set top box selects the particular channel you wish to view. So, by default, you WILL INDEED require a set top box at each television where you wish to view the U-Verse tv broadcast.

The ONE DVR in the system will soon have the capability of being controlled by any STB (set top box) in the system. The term Total Home DVR may be familiar to you. That is what this term describes. One DVR with the ability to be viewed and controlled from any TV in the home.  For now, the majority of the country can view a recording on any TV, but the controls are at the DVR. There has been much anticipation by the customer base for the enhancement of this system. The ability to control the DVR (ff, rewind, delete, etc.) is currently in a new software version which is being rolled out nationwide. This is known as Phase 2 rollout. Austin, TX area was the first to get it, and reports are that it works nicely. The rollout of this software involves ATT "pushing" (or "downloading) the new software into your RG (residential Gateway), and updating each system in the customer's home. The timeframe for accomplishing this nationwide escapes me at this time. I have no clue. I just know it is happening as we communicate.

There is a rumor that a Phase 3 software rollout in the future will include Media Center capabilities, which would allow music, photo, etc. sharing on the home network of internet, phone, and tv via a PC connection. This makes sense as a possibility, as the STB's are Microsoft® Mediaroom™, Alcatel Media Manager and Motorola’s KreaTV™ compliant (see http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Set-tops/IP%20Set-tops/VIP1216/_Documents/Static%20Files/VIP1216specsheet_082508_f.pdf?localeId=33 for more info). But this is at this point unconfirmed.

As far as having to sign up for U-Voice as part of your service, my understanding is that U-Verse Voice, U-Verse Internet VDSL service, and U-Verse TV is the preferred (and heavily marketed) "triple-play" package which ATT will push. BUT…..I see NO REASON why you HAVE to take VOIP as part of the package (U-Verse Telephone). I think the billing if you make long distance calls would be to your benefit to have VOIP vs. a landline, but ultimately it IS YOUR CHOICE. Just my opinion, don't know this for sure. But I do know that ATT initially rolled out U-Verse back in the day WITHOUT U-Voice capability. They added it later.

Hope this helps!