BellSouth, Samsung Team On Broadband Devices

BellSouth and a division of Samsung said Thursday that they have agreed to work together to develop and sell devices that use broadband to integrate multiple functions in the home such as multimedia and voice-over-IP (VoIP).

"BellSouth and Samsung recognize that convergence is the future of our industries," Randy Roberts, BellSouth's vice president for consumer devices and wireless, said in a statement. BellSouth, which is in the process of being acquired by AT&T, is a major provider of broadband service. Samsung Telecommunications America develops hardware such as handsets aimed at consumers.

The companies said in a statement that they will spend the rest of this year examining specific products they can co-market to broadband customers. They provided no specific types of products that they might eventually release, but Roberts described the general direction of the partnership.

"Our vision is to enable a digital home in which a customer can share photos and music, download and watch video, play games online, or talk to their friends and family -- from whatever device they choose at any location in their home," Roberts said.