According to the Associated Press, AT&T launched the first live video sharing service yesterday. This new service requires a 3G capable handset that is video share-capable. The price for this premium service is between $5-$10 with a plan or 35 cents a minute. So what can we expect from such technology? Special moments such as a baby taking his or her first steps can immediately be sent to grandma and grandpa – in realtime – all with one’s cell phone. Pretty cool stuff – I can already picture this feature being used for "Can you help me?" type questions where you’re not sure how to do something and the other party can see what’s going on and aid you with how to perform…say, a backwash for a swimming pool.

Of course, this is only a glimpse of technology potential and the current AT&T rollout in 3 cities is more of an early public "alpha" test to lure early adopters. Coupled with reports that AT&T’s flagship 3G city of LA providing only spotty service, and the requirement that both parties need a video share-capable phone (which there are only 3 models currently), many will find themselves not being able to partake of this service even if they wanted to.

Is it worth $5-$10 more per month? Until AT&T perfects the technology and makes it much more publicly available, I think not.

Technorati Tags: AT&T, Live, Video, Sharing, Cell to Cell, Just Another Mobile Monday

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