AT&T is trying to re-interest you in a landline. The company has launched the AT&T HomeManager, a phone service designed to give you the security of a landline service, with cell phone-like features.

Those perks include access to the web, weather, email, news, as well as “visual” voicemail. The system uses a broadband-enabled base station, which sends all of the info to a cordless 7-inch color touchscreen. You can make calls from the touchscreen, which includes a speakerphone, or a cordless headset. Everything you need is included in the HomeManager package.

Aside from being able to use the touchscreen as a digital photo frame, other features include AT&T Mobile Backup address book synchronizing and free Yellow Pages access.

HomeManager is currently available in Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. It’s kind of an interesting concept—if you’re willing to pay $299 for the package, as well as sign up for two years of AT&T High Speed Internet service. Harris Interactive recently reported that one in five consumers (that participated in their survey) have no landline. I wonder if this would be enough to garner additional interest.

Curious to how the whole thing works? 3Screens did a little independent test. The results are in the video below.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.