Apparently, AT&T's "three screen initiative" (linking TV, Internet & cellphone) is actually a four screen initiative if you include the company's new Home Manager system. The system, like the Verizon iobi and Embarq eGo services, is intended to keep people from dropping their landlines and going cell only by incorporating more mobile phone like features. With a $299 price tag for the Samsung-made device (plus $69 for each additional handset), it's unlikely to sway those who dropped their landline to save money, but it might appeal to someone who already has AT&T services from shifting to cable VoIP. Maybe. Some of the functionality:A lame effort to try and keep AT&T's dying landline offerings relevant and bundled customers loyal, or a useful integration of AT&T services? If you can't decide, here's the AT&T press release, a demo, a blog entry at Telecompetitor (who alerted us to the new device), and here's a video unboxing and review of the unit hooked in to a customer's U-Verse setup. Note that the touch-screen device will sync your AT&T wireless phone data, but the service is not compatible with the iPhone. One bit of good news is there's no monthly fees for the device.

So far the Home Manager service is only available in nine AT&T markets: Chicago; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; San Antonio; Houston; Dallas; San Francisco; San Diego and Los Angeles.