John Selby on how the spiritual practice of love differs from fear and judging.
Monthly Archives: January 2010
New Analysis Reveals Color of Dinosaur Skin for the First Time | 80beats
As much as paleontologists have sorted out about the dinosaurs, one of the main aspects of their appearance—what color they were—has remained mysterious. But in a new Nature study, a team of British and Chinese scientists report that they found a way to unlock the color patters of one of the earliest feathery dinosaurs—it had a red mohawk, they say, with a red and white striped tail.
The dino in question is called Sinosauropteryx, which lived about 125 million years ago. Looking at fossils found in China, the team led by Mike Benton found what they think are the remains of feathers. And they found something inside the feathers that matches modern birds: melanosomes. These structures provide the melanin pigment in bird feathers (and human hair), and what color they are depends on the shape. “A ginger-haired person would have more spherical melanosomes, and a black-haired or grey-haired person would have more of the sausage-shaped structures,” said Professor Benton [BBC News].
Analyzing the Sinosauropteryx remains, the team found that spherical and sausage-shaped melanosomes alternated in its tail, which indicated to them that it would have been striped red and gray. Why would a dinosaur need a striped tail? Many birds, the living descendants of non-avian dinosaurs, use brightly colored tails for courtship displays. [National Geographic News]. They also found a “mohawk” of feathers running down its head to its back, but these showed just signs of red, not stripes.
You have to get lucky to find such evidence. Dinosaur fossils are mostly drab collections of mineralized bones. A few preserve traces of skin, and fewer still preserve structures that many scientists have argued are feathers [The New York Times]. But, Benton argues, his team’s stroke of good fortune lends more weight to the idea that birds descended from the dinosaurs called theropods, of which Sinosauropteryx was one: “Critics have said that these visible spiny structures could be shredded connective tissue. But the discovery of melanosomes within the bristles finally proves that some early dinosaurs were indeed feathered” [BBC News].
Related Content:
80beats: Model Suggests 4-Winged Dino Glided Like a Flying Squirrel
80beats: How Dinosaur Feet Evolved Into Bird Wings: New Fossil Provides Clues
80beats: Study: Velociraptor’s Cousin Had a Venomous Bite and Saber Teeth
The Loom: Moving Dinosaurs Into Technicolor
DISCOVER: Did T-Rex Taste Like Chicken?
Image: Chuang Zhao and Lida Xing
High Discharge Temperature Setpoint for Reciprocating Compressors
Does anyone know if a rule of thumb exists for calculating what the high discharge temperature shutdown set point should be for a reciprocating compressor based on the theoretical normal operating temperature of the discharge valves? The TC is installed in the discharge manifold.
England Is Next Country To Project Criminals’ Faces On Buildings [Billboards]
Huge billboards of FBI's most wanted have already been hoisted up in Times Square, but unfortunately that's not the only crim-soaked corner of the globe. Buildings across the UK are splashing scary mugs on them too, like the one above.
It's not just criminals apparently, with monuments and buildings proving to be the 21st century version of a milk carton, projecting images of missing people on them too.
A £3,000 ($4,841) projector is being used in Hampshire for ultimate exposure of the nasty wrong-doers' faces, though the brand is unknown. Anyone know? [Daily Mail]
Electronic Survey Assistance Needed
hi
il will be performing an survey in our plant. I will be survey all the electronic equipment and checking whether it is protected adequatly against lightening,faults etc. need to check whether earthing is properly done.and whether surge arrestors are installed on sensitive equipment. also
earthing
I would like to know what is the cross sectional area required for copper mat used for earthing a normal residential building? i know it will depend on the fault current and soil resistivity. but can i get some ball park figures.?is their any standards for earthing usinng copper mat for residential,
Newspapers used to be cool | Bad Astronomy
Sigh. I do so love this kind of art.
This was the art drawn by Winsor McCay for an editorial in the Chicago Herald Examiner on March 29, 1931. Does anyone know more about the article that went with this art? I’d love to see it.
Tip o’ the 100 inch to Zach Weiner
Adobe Responds to the iPad’s Lack of Flash [Flash]
As you're probably aware, the Apple iPad, like the iPhone and iPod Touch, doesn't support Flash. Apple has its reasons for this, but clearly Adobe isn't happy about it. Here's their response.
It looks like Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices that limit both content publishers and consumers. Unlike many other ebook readers using the ePub file format, consumers will not be able to access ePub content with Apple's DRM technology on devices made by other manufacturers. And without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content, including over 70% of games and 75% of video on the web.
If I want to use the iPad to connect to Disney, Hulu, Miniclip, Farmville, ESPN, Kongregate, or JibJab — not to mention the millions of other sites on the web — I'll be out of luck.
Adobe and more than 50 of our partners in the Open Screen Project are working to enable developers and content publishers to deliver to any device, so that consumers have open access to their favorite interactive media, content, and applications across platform, regardless of the device that people choose to use.
The main arguments against Flash running on the iPad are that it's a resource hog and a security risk. Both true! Hopefully the web is moving away from relying on Flash for videos and ugly menus, with HTML5 acting as a more-than-adequate replacement. But we're not there yet. While I can appreciate the fact that Apple is trying to keep the iPad more stable by not including Flash, the fact that it kills off most online gaming and video streaming in the process makes the tradeoff questionable. [Adobe]
Is Constellation Dead?
Anxiety rises over NASA budget, Huntsville Times
"I've read what you've read," said Steve Cook, who ran the Ares rocket component of Constellation at Marshall Space Flight Center from conception until leaving for a job in industry in September. "This is just a lot of speculation," Cook said Wednesday. "We just need to wait and see what the president does." Constellation employs about 1,500 contractor employees and 700 government workers at Marshall Space Flight Center, Cook said."
No space for Constellation? Former NASA Administrator speaks out
"I personally believe the rumors are likely to be true," said Griffin. "If they're true it's a very bad day for the nation and the space program." Griffin said tens of thousands of people will be effected by cuts."
Keith's note: Ares 1 is dead and Ares V is morphing into a commercially-provided HLV for TBD uses. The ISS will be serviced by commerical spacecraft for crew and cargo (not by Orion) and deep space "Flexible Path" missions will almost certainly use something other than Orion for crew transport. As such, there is not going to be much left of "Constellation".
Synchronous Condensers
This power plant is considering converting a generator to synchronous condenser operation. If anyone has experience with this, I would like to hear about it: challenges, cost, operational issues, maintenance issues, equipment changes, etc. There are 2 large generators (ST prime mover) on the order o
Air Mover Properties
I have an air mover. This is a unit that uses a small amount of air to drag in a larger amount of air. The problem I have is that the air is going down a small diameter tube. This tube gets momentarily blocked. This really plays with the principle of the airmover and it decides to blow air the oppos
The Google Earth Guys Have a Tough Gig [Humor]
We've seen the ordeal the Google Street View guys were put through in order to photograph every street on Earth. But what about the guys tasked with photographing the entire planet? [CollegeHumor]
MenuPages App Hits the App Store: Delicious and Free [IPhone Apps]
Do you live in New York, San Francisco, LA, Philly, Boston, Chicago, DC or South Florida? Then you have no reason not to download this app, which has stunningly complete restaurant listings with full menus for your entire city.
Since MenuPages doesn't do reservations (update: it does, though the restaurant's profile page! But only on select, OpenTable-ready restaurants) or emphasize a social function like Yelp, its strengths lie in its completeness—I've got about twice as many proper restaurants listed in my neighborhood on here than in Yelp—and raw information. With MenuPages, you're not looking up restaurants; you're looking up specific dishes, usually with listed ingredients. The app itself is minimalist, but not to a fault: listings are easy to access either manually or according to your current location, the refinement tools are just like the ones you're used to on MenuPages.com, and map/list search results are easy to sort through. And it's free. SO WONDERFULLY FREE. [MenuPages]
Interesting Astronomy Links
Here’s a collection of astronomy-related links for you which I’ve enjoyed and found useful. I am by no means implying that a site is NOT good if I haven’t listed it; good grief, there are thousands of them! These are just a few of those I’ve used, and thought you might like to look them over if you haven’t done so already.
Of course, the preface “http://” is implied for each of these links, and you don’t have to use capital letters. I did that for clarification, and to make it easier to find something if you’re just scanning down the list.
http://www.NASA.gov – This is NASA’s website, and is a great starting place for all things NASA. It’ll give you directions to set up your very own NASA page, streamlined to your interests, called “MyNASA”.
http://www.ESA.int – Here’s the European Space Agency homepage. News stories, images, videos, and additional links can be found here. ESA, like NASA, has a section for kids with great games, competitions, downloads… well, you get the general idea.
http://www.JPL.nasa.gov – While many people think of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Lab (CA Institute of Technology) as one organization, they aren’t. Their relationship is more like an extremely successful and productive marriage. You’ll find a lot of duplication between NASA’s website and this one, but you’ll also find a lot of incredible new stuff.
SOHOwww.nascom.nasa.gov – I know, the “soho” before “www” looks weird, but that’s the correct address. This is the home of SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric observatory. This is one cool website, for a really cool project.
http://www.HUBBLEsite.org – “Out of the ordinary …out of this world.” That certainly describes Hubble, and HubbleSite. Here’s where to find all those beautiful Hubble images, extras for kids, help for educators, news about Hubble… many, many fascinating bits and pieces to keep you interested for hours. There’s even a little section on the Webb Space Telescope (not due to launch until 2014).
http://www.SPITZER.caltech.edu – Here’s where you’ll find Spitzer Space Telescope images, along with all things Spitzer. Of course, you get a lot of cross-over from NASA, JPL, and CalTech, but it’s still a great, stand-alone site.
CHANDRA.harvard.edu – Another weird address… there’s no “www” in front of “Chandra”. Among other features, this site (like HubbleSite) has a “where is Chandra right now” section that’s updated every minute. It’s great to have all of Chandra’s jaw-dropping images in one place, too.
saturn.jpl.nasa.gov – Bet you’re thinking I just lost my mind! This is the address to the CASSINI MISSION homepage. Again, no “www” in front of “saturn”. This site, along with NASA’s home page, won a WEBBY in 2009 for excellence on the internet. The Cassini Mission site won for “best science site”. Nice.
VOYAGER.jpl.nasa.gov – If it’s jaw-dropping images you’re looking for, don’t neglect this site. Welcome to the home of Voyager I and II.
MESSENGER.jhuapl.edu – Messenger’s web site. There are some great images of Mercury here that Tom and I haven’t had a chance to use yet.
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov – The address for ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY. This is a fairly simple, straightforward web site, which disguises the fact that you’ll find some of the most beautiful images you’ve ever seen hiding behind all that simplicity. One tip: The search engine is not designed to handle “sounds-like” searches, so you’ll need the exact spelling.
SPACEWEATHER.com – I bet you’re beginning to wonder if anything is prefaced “www” anymore. This site will give you cool images, interesting articles, and helpful links. For instance, if you go to this link today, you’ll see that tomorrow is the biggest full moon of the year (with images).
STEREO.gsfc.nasa.gov – For the best information and 3-D images of the Sun, this is the site to visit. Here is where you can see what the Sun looks like right now. The whole thing… hair/hide/fur/feathers and all.
ngm.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.com – The home of National Geographic. Good articles, stunning images… how could I leave out National Geographic? A lot of its content is more “down to Earth”, but NatGeo is right there in space exploration and funding, too.
There, that should keep you busy for a little while if you weren’t already familiar with each of these sites. There are tons more, and you’ll find handy links to some very interesting places. If nothing else, pop over and look at how the moon will appear tomorrow.
And see? I can yap for HOURS without any encouragement.
hydraullic oil
To run hydraullic machine at load of 600 ton which oil should be used?
There Are No Good Games On Android, If You Ignore All These Good Games On Android [Android]
VE Ideas
Any idea for cost down for plastic part (injection moulding). I need to brain storm some ideas.
Obama on Climate and Energy in the SOTU | The Intersection
Here’s the part of last night’s speech that is directed at us nerds:
Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history – an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy. You can see the results of last year’s investments in clean energy — in the North Carolina company that will create 1,200 jobs nationwide helping to make advanced batteries; or in the California business that will put a thousand people to work making solar panels.
The new investments in science were wonderful–but will they be able to continue with the president’s proposed three year “freeze” on spending?
But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. It means continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies. And, yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.
I know greens are ticked about this part of the speech. The conjunction of nuclear, drilling, and clean coal made them understandably apoplectic. But it seems to me that now that Democrats have lost their supermajority in the Senate, it may be necessary to give some ground on these areas if we want a real energy plan to go through. And it sounds like Obama is willing to do that.
I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. And this year I’m eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate.
I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But here’s the thing – even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy-efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future – because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.
Go Greg Craven–Obama made your argument!
I’m glad the president isn’t backing down on the Senate bill. I am not in a position to handicap the votes, but, let’s face it: George W. Bush would have gotten the bill through without a supermajority in the Senate. He did it again and again. If Democrats play tougher, and smarter, they can still put us on a path towards solving the climate problem.
Earth pit drawing for instrumentation
Sir,
Please provide me the drawing of earth pits which is suitable for instrumentaion.
Sorry, Download Speeds: AT&T Added 4 Million 3G Devices Last Quarter [At&t]
AT&T made over $800 million in wireless data revenue last fall, thanks to a glut of new 3G users. Unfortunately, that also puts extra strain on their already-clogged data pipes. And we've still got all that iPad traffic ahead.
AT&T's plans to fix things up include a $2 billion increase in the amount of spending on their wireless network, and an increased focus on HSPA 7.2 (which the iPhone 3GS runs on) and LTE deployment. They expect the "majority" of mobile data to be on fiber-based backhaul (that's a good thing!) by the end of 2010, but honestly that long a time horizon makes me nervous.
There'll be a call at 10am EST to discuss earnings results further, and we'll listen in for any more interesting tidbits. In the meantime, the full release is below.
AT&T Reports Fourth-Quarter Earnings Growth with a 2.7 Million Net Gain in Wireless Subscribers, Continued Strong Growth in IP-Based Revenues, Record Full-Year Cash Flow
* $0.51 diluted EPS for the fourth quarter versus $0.41 in the year-earlier period
* $34.4 billion full-year cash from operating activities versus $33.7 billion in 2008, and $17.1 billion free cash flow, up 28.4 percent versus 2008 (free cash flow is cash from operations minus capital expenditures)
* 2.7 million fourth-quarter net addition in total wireless subscribers, the second highest quarterly net gain in the company's history; full-year wireless net adds totaled 7.3 million, equaling the company's best-ever annual total, to reach 85.1 million subscribers in service
* Best-ever fourth-quarter wireless subscriber churn levels – 1.19 percent postpaid and 1.44 percent total
* 2.6 percent growth in postpaid wireless subscriber ARPU (average monthly revenues per subscriber), eighth consecutive quarter with a year-over-year increase
* Continued robust growth in revenues from wireless data services such as messaging, access to applications and related services; up $805 million, or 26.3 percent, versus the year-earlier quarter to $3.9 billion
* 248,000 net gain in AT&T U-verseSM TV subscribers to reach 2.1 million in service, up more than 1 million in 2009, with continued high broadband and voice attach rates
* 18.8 percent growth in wireline IP data revenues driven by AT&T U-verse expansion and growth in advanced business solutions
* 17.0 percent growth in revenues from strategic business services such as Ethernet, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), hosting and application servicesNote: AT&T's fourth-quarter earnings conference call will be broadcast live via the Internet at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at http://www.att.com/investor.relations.
Dallas, Jan. 28, 2010 – AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today reported fourth-quarter results highlighted by solid momentum across key growth areas. Wireless service revenues grew 9.2 percent, driven by industry-leading subscriber growth and continued rapid adoption of data services. AT&T U-verse subscriber gains topped 1 million for the year. Wireline IP-based services and strategic business products both posted strong double-digit revenue growth.
Progress in these areas and continued solid execution of cost initiatives offset expected declines in legacy voice and print advertising products. Fourth-quarter revenues totaled $30.9 billion, net income attributable to AT&T was $3.0 billion, diluted earnings per share totaled $0.51 and cash from operating activities totaled $9.0 billion.
"We had a solid 2009 and led the industry in the biggest growth driver – mobile broadband," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer. "Looking ahead, customer demand for connectivity, particularly mobile broadband and IP data, continues to be strong, and AT&T is well positioned at the center of this growth. Our fundamental outlook for the business is quite positive.
"Our significant investments in IP infrastructure – both mobile and fixed – provide the next-generation growth platforms for us," Stephenson said. "Our leadership in mobile broadband will continue to set us apart as we roll out even faster 3G speeds this year and begin deploying 4G capabilities in 2011. Our IP-based U-verse service continues to scale nicely, improving our consumer revenue profile. And we continue to see solid growth from mobile broadband and IP data services in the business segment."
Fourth-Quarter Financial Results
For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, AT&T's consolidated revenues totaled $30.9 billion, compared with $31.1 billion in the year-earlier quarter and up slightly from the third quarter of 2009. This marked AT&T's third consecutive quarter with a sequential increase in consolidated revenues.
AT&T's operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $26.0 billion versus $26.2 billion in the year-earlier period. Operating income was $4.9 billion, compared with $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, and AT&T's operating income margin was 15.8 percent, the same as in the year-earlier quarter. Net income attributable to AT&T totaled $3.0 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in the year-earlier quarter, and earnings per diluted share totaled $0.51, compared with $0.41 in the fourth quarter of 2008.
In addition to solid operational performance, fourth-quarter 2009 results reflect severance charges related to workforce reductions totaling $330 million, or $0.04 per share, offset by $0.04 of benefits to earnings per share from tax audits and judicial developments. Year-over-year comparisons reflect incremental noncash pension and retiree benefit expenses in the fourth quarter of 2009 of approximately $250 million, or $0.03 per diluted share.
Fourth-quarter 2008 results included a severance charge of $617 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, related to workforce reductions and a charge of $445 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for merger-related trust investment losses. Both quarters' severance charges are primarily reflected in the Other segment of AT&T financial statements.
Full-Year Results, Outlook
For the full year 2009, compared with 2008 results, AT&T's consolidated revenues totaled $123.0 billion versus $124.0 billion; operating expenses were $101.5 billion, compared with $101.0 billion; net income attributable to AT&T was $12.5 billion versus $12.9 billion; and earnings per diluted share totaled $2.12, compared with $2.16.
Compared with 2008 results, AT&T's full-year cash from operating activities totaled $34.4 billion, up from $33.7 billion; capital expenditures totaled $17.3 billion versus $20.3 billion; and free cash flow (cash from operations minus capital expenditures) totaled $17.1 billion, up from $13.3 billion. AT&T's 2009 cash from operations and free cash flow were the company' best-ever annual totals.
As it continues to execute its growth and cost-improvement initiatives, in 2010, AT&T expects to deliver stable consolidated revenues and stable-to-improved consolidated operating income margins, leading to stable-to-improved earnings per share. AT&T also expects to generate strong free cash flow in 2010, generally in line with 2008 results, even with a substantial increase in wireless capital investment to further enhance wireless broadband coverage, capacity and performance. Total 2010 capital expenditures are expected to be in the $18 billion to $19 billion range, a level framed by the expectation that regulatory and legislative decisions relating to the telecom sector will continue to be sensitive to investment. AT&T expects to achieve a wireless OIBDA service margin in the low 40-percent range in 2010, and its longer-term wireless OIBDA service margin outlook continues to be in the mid-40 percent range. (OIBDA service margin is operating income before depreciation and amortization, divided by total service revenues.)
Wireless Operational Highlights
AT&T's fourth-quarter wireless growth was driven by the company's premier nationwide network capabilities, rich access to applications and attractive device lineup. Highlights include:
* Strong Subscriber Gains. In the fourth quarter, AT&T posted a net gain in total wireless subscribers of 2.7 million, the second highest quarterly net add total in the company's history, reflecting rapid adoption of smartphones and emerging devices such as eReaders, netbooks and navigation devices. Full-year wireless net adds totaled 7.3 million, equaling the company's best-ever annual total, to reach 85.1 million subscribers in service. Retail postpaid net adds totaled 910,000 for the quarter and 4.3 million for the full year.
* Best-Ever Fourth-Quarter Subscriber Churn. Average monthly subscriber churn improved to best-ever fourth-quarter levels. Postpaid churn was 1.19 percent, down from 1.20 percent in the year-earlier quarter; total churn was 1.44 percent versus 1.64 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. This marked AT&T's sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in both total and postpaid wireless churn.
* Sustained Robust Growth in Wireless Data Revenues. Wireless data revenues – from messaging, access to applications and related services – increased $805 million, or 26.3 percent, from the year-earlier quarter to $3.9 billion. Versus the year-earlier quarter, total text messages carried on the AT&T network increased 70 percent to 135 billion and multimedia messages more than doubled to more than 2 billion.
* Eighth Consecutive Quarter of Postpaid ARPU Growth. Driven by strong data growth, postpaid subscriber ARPU increased 2.6 percent versus the year-earlier quarter to $61.13. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter AT&T has posted a year-over-year increase in postpaid ARPU. Postpaid data ARPU reached $19.16, up 17.5 percent versus the year-earlier quarter.
* Strong Growth in 3G and Integrated Devices. Key drivers of AT&T's wireless data growth are increased penetration of integrated devices (handsets with QWERTY or virtual keyboards in addition to voice functionality) and greater usage of the company's extensive 3G network. The number of postpaid 3G integrated devices on AT&T's network increased by more than 4 million in the fourth quarter and nearly tripled over the past year. At the end of the year, 46.4 percent of AT&T's 65.1 million postpaid subscribers had integrated devices, up from 27.0 percent a year earlier. AT&T's fourth-quarter integrated-device growth included 3.1 million iPhone activations, the second highest quarterly total to date, with more than a third of the activations for customers who were new to AT&T. The average ARPU for integrated devices on AT&T's network continues to be 1.8 times that of the company's nonintegrated-device base.
* Leadership in Emerging Devices. AT&T's fourth-quarter subscriber gains also reflect strong growth in wireless connectivity for emerging devices including eReaders such as the Amazon Kindle, the Sony Reader Daily Edition™ and the Barnes & Noble nook. Total emerging devices on AT&T's wireless network increased by more than 1 million in the fourth quarter, its strongest quarter in this category to date, predominantly reflected in reseller subscriber totals.
* Wireless Margin Improvement. AT&T delivered year-over-year margin expansion and sequential margin stability in the fourth quarter – reflecting continued low churn, improved operating efficiencies and further growth in the company's base of high-quality subscribers. Fourth-quarter wireless service revenues totaled $12.6 billion, up 9.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008, and operating expenses totaled $10.4 billion, up 2.4 percent versus the year-earlier quarter. Versus the fourth quarter of 2008, wireless operating income was $3.4 billion, up 27.4 percent; wireless operating income margin was 24.7 percent versus 20.9 percent; and wireless OIBDA service margin was 38.8 percent, compared with 35.8 percent.Wireline Operational Highlights
AT&T's fourth-quarter wireline results were highlighted by further expansion in AT&T U-verse services and sustained mid-teens growth in revenues from strategic business services. Highlights include:
* Solid, Consistent AT&T U-verse Gains. AT&T U-verse TV subscribers increased by 248,000 in the quarter to reach 2.1 million, up more than 1 million over the past year. This was the company's fifth consecutive quarter with AT&T U-verse TV net adds above 240,000. More than three-fourths of AT&T U-verse TV subscribers have a triple- or quad-play option from AT&T. AT&T's U-verse deployment now reaches approximately 23 million living units. Companywide penetration of eligible living units now approaches 13 percent, and across areas marketed to for 24 months or more, overall penetration exceeds 20 percent. AT&T's total video subscribers, which combine the company's
U-verse and bundled satellite customers, reached 4.2 million at the end of the year, representing 16.0 percent of households served.
* Improved Broadband Growth. AT&T U-verse broadband continued its strong growth with a net gain of 267,000 wireline consumer subscribers in the fourth quarter. This growth, combined with continued solid gains in standalone broadband, more than offset declines in traditional DSL connections for a 167,000 net gain in consumer wireline broadband connections. Total broadband connections, which include business and consumer wireline subscribers and wireless customers with 3G LaptopConnect cards, increased by 171,000 in the quarter to reach 17.3 million.
* 31.8 Percent Growth in Revenues from Consumer IP-Based Services. Increased AT&T U-verse penetration drove 31.8 percent year-over-year growth in consumer IP revenues (broadband, U-verse TV and U-verse Voice) and a 3.7 percent increase in revenues per household served. Consumer IP revenues now represent 34.7 percent of AT&T's consumer wireline revenues, up from 25.3 percent in the year-earlier quarter. AT&T's combined wireline consumer TV and broadband connections increased by 394,000 in the quarter and 1.8 million over the full year 2009. AT&T U-verse Voice connections increased by 219,000 in the quarter and 730,000 for the full year 2009. AT&T's total consumer revenue connections at the end of the year were 45.3 million, compared with 45.7 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009 and 47.0 million at the end of 2008, reflecting declines in traditional voice access lines partially offset by increases in broadband, TV and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connections.
* Mid-Teens Percentage Growth in Revenues from Strategic Business Services. Revenues from new-generation capabilities that lead AT&T's most advanced solutions – including Ethernet, VPNs, hosting, IP conferencing and application services – grew 17.0 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, continuing trends of recent quarters. Total business revenues declined 5.5 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, reflecting economic weakness in voice and legacy data products, and were down just 0.4 percent versus the third quarter of 2009 – their best sequential comparison in five quarters.
* Improved Growth in Business IP Revenues. Business IP data revenues grew 7.3 percent versus the year-earlier fourth quarter, led by better than 20 percent growth in VPN revenues. Approximately two-thirds of AT&T's frame customers have made the transition to IP-based solutions, which allow them to easily add managed services such as network security, hosting and IP conferencing on top of their infrastructures.
* Improved Wireline Revenue and Margin Trends. Fourth-quarter total wireline revenues were $16.2 billion, down 5.3 percent versus the year-earlier quarter and down 0.9 percent sequentially – the company's smallest declines in four quarters. Fourth-quarter wireline operating expenses totaled $14.3 billion, down 2.7 percent from $14.7 billion in the year-earlier quarter, as productivity improvements offset expenses associated with AT&T U-verse expansion and incremental noncash pension and retiree benefit costs, which totaled $236 million in the quarter. Compared with the year-earlier quarter, AT&T's fourth-quarter wireline operating income totaled $1.9 billion versus $2.4 billion, and the company's wireline operating income margin was 11.6 percent versus 14.0 percent.
