Syntonic, in partnership with AT&T, today announced the Sponsored Content Store, a digital storefront for AT&T subscribers to access sponsored data content.
Syntonic CEO Gary Greenbaum said the private beta launching today will act as a catalog for AT&T Sponsored Data content as well as a hub for data passes and premium access applications.
The Syntonic store application will be available for iOS and Android—through Google Play— later this summer and will provide access to applications and streaming music and video without charging customers’ data plans.
Syntonic will leverage its connected services platform to open up the sponsored content store to smartphones, tablets and PCs.
AT&T at CES in January announced its Sponsored Data program and was immediately met with concerns about the programs potential impact on net neutrality. Chiefly, opponents have suggested that sponsored data could be a way for larger companies to pay for preferential network treatment while smaller companies would lack the funds to pay for the same consumer incentives.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised to keep a close eye on the new practice. He said AT&T’s offer might be a boost to competition and efficiency but acknowledged that sponsoring data could lead to an unleveled playing field.
“I am not interested in protecting competitors from competition, nor am I interested in presiding over a festival of rent seeking. But I am committed to maintaining our networks as conduits for commerce large and small,” Wheeler said in prepared remarks.
Filed Under: Carriers
