US operator AT&T has appointed a senior executive to lead a new initiative aimed at developing wireless capabilities for a variety of emerging wireless devices beyond the traditional handset. In a statement, AT&T said that Glenn Lurie, formerly the president of National Distribution for AT&T Mobility, is to become president of a new division called ‘Emerging Devices, National Distribution and Resale.’ The division’s aim is to bring wireless connectivity to a range of new consumer electronics devices and applications such as mobile Internet devices or mini-computers, in-car entertainment and navigation systems, cameras and machine-to-machine communications systems. “There is also a host of exciting new applications – from social networking to navigation to location-based solutions – being developed that will rely on wireless connectivity,” Lurie said.

AT&T says the initiative will be supported by its network of 2,000 company-owned retail stores and its agreements with major US electronic retailers such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Costco and RadioShack. The operator said this network would give it “widespread distribution options” for the new products. “Once we select a new emerging device, we can then work with our partner to decide on the best distribution channels to sell it,” Lurie said. AT&T added that its GSM-based 3G network brings “enormous economies of scale” to electronic manufacturers looking to incorporate wireless functionality.