AT&T Announces Free Wi-Fi to LaptopConnect Customers

May 22, 2008

AT&T announced free Wi-Fi service for its qualifying LaptopConnect customers allowing access at more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots across the U.S. – including restaurants, airports, hotels, and nearly 7,000 company-owned Starbucks locations.

AT&T’s LaptopConnect Customers Receive Alerts to Nearby Hot Spots

AT&T LaptopConnect customers utilize AT&T’s wireless network to connect to e-mail, the Internet, and business applications almost anywhere they can make a phone call. Qualifying LaptopConnect customers will now automatically receive a pop-up message alerting them to Wi-Fi availability when in range of an AT&T hot spot. At that point, customers who have downloaded the latest AT&T Communication Manager software to their laptop PC can click to access the Wi-Fi connectivity.

"The combination of the nation’s largest wireless and Wi-Fi networks is unbeatable," said Michael Woodward, vice president, business mobility products for AT&T’s wireless unit. "It’s the ultimate in mobility for laptops – AT&T’s wireless network plus more than 17,000 Wi-Fi locations."

AT&T to Expand Wireless Network to 350 Markets by Year End

When not in a hot spot, AT&T LaptopConnect cards operate on AT&T’s wireless network, which provides DSL-like speeds on the company’s 3G network in more than 275 markets in the U.S. The company plans to expand to nearly 350 markets by year end. AT&T’s wireless network also offers data connectivity across AT&T’s EDGE network which covers more than 13,000 cities and towns and some 40,000 miles of major highways. Internationally, AT&T customers can access data in more than 145 countries and 3G roaming in 60 countries.

AT&T also offers free Wi-Fi access to qualifying broadband subscribers and plans to expand free Wi-Fi access to additional wireless customers in the future.