AT&T Video review (formerly Cingular Video)

At the top of each menu or category are a couple of random headline video clips that you can stream immediately, which is nice if you just want to watch any video to pass the time. There's a feature called My CV, which is a customizable menu of your favorite programs and channels (you can add to this list by selecting Add to My CV). Also, because most of the content on Cingular Video is adult in nature, there are parental controls that let moms and dads establish a PIN code for accessing certain content.

Overall, it's an excellent lineup for quick media bites to pass the time when waiting in line or on the bus. The lack of exclusive mobile episodes such as Verizon's V Cast is a bit disappointing, plus the number of shows available does not even come near Sprint Power Vision's exhaustive offerings. For the flat-rate price, however, we are very pleased with what Cingular Video offers. Add in the exclusive HBO premium content to the mix, and you get a very attractive package.

Performance
Arguably, the most impressive aspect of Cingular Video is its speed. Buffer speeds for most videos took about 8 seconds, with no rebuffering at all when the video is playing. As for how the video looked, none of the shows could be described as TV quality. While animated shows came through all right, live-action shows were still murky, especially when it came to sports and action shots. Talking-head shots, as on news programs, and stand-up shows appeared decent enough.

Pricing and availability
As mentioned earlier, you get the whole basic-programming package under Cingular's unlimited Media Net package for $19.99 a month. For the premium services, however, there is an additional monthly fee. On top of that, HBO Mobile costs $4.99 a month, while HBO Family Mobile runs another $2.99 a month. As for Music Choice, you can either pay 99 cents a video for a 24-hour period or subscribe to it for $4.99 a month. Cingular Video is available wherever 3G service is available, which at the time of this writing is limited to 16 metro areas. At present, you can access Cingular Video with only two phones: the LG CU320 and the Samsung ZX10.