"Knock knock. AT&T here to set up your computer!"

AT&T has decided to jump into the home computer/TV repair game by launching a new service called ConnecTech that will be available for residential customers in all 50 states, whether they're AT&T customers or not. Through ConnecTech, customers will be able to get home theater installation, computer and home network setup, and a slew of TV, computer, and network repairs right from the comfort of their own homes.

Clicking around on the ConnecTech site offers a feel for the different service levels. You can get PC or home network phone support for (as low as) $69, or home computer/network installation for $99. In-home support will cost at least $180, and TV/home theater support will cost at least $150. Although the prices aren't exactly cheap, they fall about in line with (or, in some cases, are cheaper than) what one might expect to pay to have the Geek Squad take a look.



ConnecTech's price matrix ConnecTech's price matrix

Speaking of Geek Squad, ConnecTech is clearly meant to be a direct competitor to Best Buy's service, although the market for average Joes and Janes needing home repairs is probably large enough to handle them both. AT&T spokesperson Brad Mays told Ars that ConnecTech's advantage over other services is that AT&T is "a one-stop-shop. Because we already understand and support the network side, we bring a new and better approach to end-to-end support and customer care."

He said that reason AT&T decided to launch this service is because the company believes it has the experience and capabilities to take care of customers from beginning to end, and can do it better than the other guys. Of course, these PR quotes are beginning to sound like a giant ad for AT&T's telecom services (after all, it's not truly a one-stop shop if you get your DSL through someone else, for example), although ConnecTech isn't limited to AT&T customers (except for PC/network phone support).

In order to provide service to all 50 states, AT&T employs its own technicians as well as contractors to carry out the in-home service. Although the ConnecTech website has some fine print saying that service isn't available in all areas, Mays claims that not being able to service someone hasn't been an issue so far. "We have yet to have an experience where we couldn't reach someone or help someone," he said. "This is a pretty broad initiative."

Putting aside the fear that these techs will spend 90 percent of their time in your home trying to sell you on other AT&T services, ConnecTech sounds like it could offer a few more options to those who don't have a family tech expert handy. Let's just hope that ConnecTech manages to build a slightly better reputation than Geek Squad has.