BellSouth on Tuesday announced the grand opening of its first “experience” store, named The BellSouth Cingular Experience, in Atlanta, Ga.

Located at 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy. N.E., the store offers hands-on demonstrations of BellSouth and Cingular Wireless technologies.

“Today’s consumers are using high-speed Internet and wireless devices to access information like music, photos, e-mail, personal content as well as move between PCs and wireless phones,” said Jan Funderburg, president of Consumer Services for BellSouth. “Visitors to The BellSouth Cingular Experience can learn how to use and access all of these technologies to make their lives easier.”

Customers can try out DIRECTV satellite television in a living room area complete with couches and flat-screen TVs. In addition, people can try out Cingular phones and FastAccess DSL service, as well as pay their BellSouth and Cingular bills.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage our customers,” said Funderburg. “The BellSouth Cingular Experience has been designed specifically to demonstrate and explain our services to customers, and to provide them with an interactive and informative shopping experience.”

Qwest Communications has opened 98 such stores in its 14-state Midwest and Rocky Mountain region, the latest Tuesday at 1801 California St. in Denver, Colo.

Sounds interesting. I like places that let me try things out first. If you’re in Atlanta, pay a visit and let me know what you find.