AT&T Lets Multiroom DVR Users Pause Live TV On Any Set-Top

AT&T has begun rolling out a feature of its Total Home DVR that lets U-verse TV customers pause and rewind live TV on any U-verse receiver in the home -- a capability not available through other DVRs.

The new feature is currently available in Mobile, Ala., and Grand Rapids, Mich. AT&T plans to roll it out on a market-by-market basis to all U-verse TV customers over the next few months. AT&T uses Microsoft's Mediaroom IPTV platform as the foundation for U-verse TV.

AT&T launched the ability to watch recorded shows from a single DVR on any connected TV in the home in 2008.

The U-verse Total Home DVR lets subscribers record up to four standard-definition and up to two HD shows at once on a single DVR, as well as record, manage and play back shows from any room in the home.

The Total Home DVR is available for up to eight TVs with a receiver for each additional TV costing $7 per month apiece.

AT&T is considering offering whole-home DVR and live TV over Wi-Fi. In March, the Federal Communications Commission approved an IPTV set-top designed by Cisco Systems for U-verse TV that receives video over a home wireless Wi-Fi connection.