AT&T is borrowing a page from Amazon's playbook. The nation's second largest wireless provider recently launched the AT&T LTE-M Button, a physical button for business customers in the same vein as Amazon's Dash Buttons.

The programmable IoT buttons are powered by Amazon Web Services and seamlessly connect to AT&T's nationwide LTE-M network, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi / Bluetooth and associated passwords. Pushing the button can trigger a host of actions, including but not limited to:

  • Offering instant customer feedback at an airport or sports arena
  • Ordering supplies for your mobile business
  • Sending alerts from connected trash cans or storage containers when it's time for a pick-up
  • Serving as an on-call button for caregivers in a nursing home

AT&T says the LTE-M button has a 1,500-click lifetime (or 36 months, whichever comes first), carries an IP66 rating, features a one-year manufacturer's warranty and encrypts outbound data using TLS. This limitation appears to be based on the unit's battery life; depending on where they are placed / their intended use, one could seemingly go through them pretty quickly at just 1,500 clicks per unit.

Pricing is set at $29.99 (introductory pricing, the regular price is $34.99) and includes a bundled data plan. Amazon says it's also willing to work with device manufacturers in order to create custom shapes and sizes.