Add another big player to the list of Groupon competitors: AT&T

The telecom giant began pre-registration to consumers in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth for a service via the company’s yp.com that will send daily deals to consumers. The company is offering $10 toward the first Deal of the Day for those who sign up through May 22. The service is expected to go live in a few weeks.

Spokeswoman Dawn Benton says that initially the deals will be sent to users via email, but over time they will be broadcast to mobile phones as well. Benton says that the move is a “natural evolution” for AT&T. “Our Yellow Pages is a trusted brands that millions already turn to,” she says.

AT&T’s not the first to eye Groupon’s business, which has put the company on track for an IPO possibily in the $25 billion range. Google just got into the daily deals business itself with Google Offers and other major players, including Facebook and Groupon’s biggest pure-play rival LivingSocial. AT&T’s ShopAlert also texts information about nearby deals to consumers in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.