AT&T sees big increase in Wi-Fi connections following iPhone 3.0
AT&T saw nearly 15 million users connect to its Wi-Fi network last quarter -- a 41 percent increase over the previous quarter -- thanks, in part, to the release of iPhone 3.0, which allowed auto-authentication on the wireless carrier's 20,000 hotspots.
For iPhone users alone, the number of Wi-Fi connections tripled in June following the new software release, an AT&T spokesperson told AppleInsider. In all, 49 percent of users connected who connected to the network did so via smartphones.
AT&T has handled 25.6 million Wi-Fi connections in 2009. That blows away the total number of customers in 2008, when the service was used by 20 million.
"Our Wi-Fi network is a competitive differentiator for AT&T and a major value for our customers," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We include unlimited Wi-Fi access with the majority of our broadband and smartphone plans, and our customers are clearly taking advantage of it. It?s another reason that twice as many smartphone customers choose AT&T than any other carrier."
In June, coinciding with the release of iPhone 3.0, free auto-authentication for iPhones on AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots was enabled. This after months of delays and numerous premature announcements for the service.
During the holdup, AT&T has made expansions to its Wi-Fi network, and the company plans to continue its growth. Since the start of 2009, the company's Wi-Fi network authentication capacity has quadrupled, in anticipation of the influx of iPhone users. Since July of last year, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots has expanded from 17,000 to 20,000.
iPhone owners can find AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, bookstores, airports, hotels, and universities, or at a nearby Starbucks.
"Our customers want both speed and mobility," said Angie Wiskocil, senior vice president, AT&T Wi-Fi Services. "They love the convenience that AT&T Wi-Fi offers, and we continue to enhance our Wi-Fi network, expand our portfolio of Wi-Fi enabled devices and extend our hotspot footprint to offer the best customer experience."
For iPhone users alone, the number of Wi-Fi connections tripled in June following the new software release, an AT&T spokesperson told AppleInsider. In all, 49 percent of users connected who connected to the network did so via smartphones.
AT&T has handled 25.6 million Wi-Fi connections in 2009. That blows away the total number of customers in 2008, when the service was used by 20 million.
"Our Wi-Fi network is a competitive differentiator for AT&T and a major value for our customers," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We include unlimited Wi-Fi access with the majority of our broadband and smartphone plans, and our customers are clearly taking advantage of it. It?s another reason that twice as many smartphone customers choose AT&T than any other carrier."
In June, coinciding with the release of iPhone 3.0, free auto-authentication for iPhones on AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots was enabled. This after months of delays and numerous premature announcements for the service.
During the holdup, AT&T has made expansions to its Wi-Fi network, and the company plans to continue its growth. Since the start of 2009, the company's Wi-Fi network authentication capacity has quadrupled, in anticipation of the influx of iPhone users. Since July of last year, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots has expanded from 17,000 to 20,000.
iPhone owners can find AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in cafés, bookstores, airports, hotels, and universities, or at a nearby Starbucks.
"Our customers want both speed and mobility," said Angie Wiskocil, senior vice president, AT&T Wi-Fi Services. "They love the convenience that AT&T Wi-Fi offers, and we continue to enhance our Wi-Fi network, expand our portfolio of Wi-Fi enabled devices and extend our hotspot footprint to offer the best customer experience."
Comments
At least the 3G works well.
Are these hot spots free ??
Problem is, she wants to get it from Best Buy (so she can get their "insurance") but here in Chicago they don't have any yet.
other cities?
2nd
Are these hot spots free ??
Yep! It's one of (if not the only) cool part about having AT&T.
EDIT: Thought of another cool thing I like about AT&T - Rollover Mins
I told my ladyfriend I'd buy her a cell phone of her choice and she picked an iPhone.
Problem is, she wants to get it from Best Buy (so she can get their "insurance") but here in Chicago they don't have any yet.
other cities?
ladyfriend eh, bowchicha bowwo
2nd
Are these hot spots free ??
Yes, if you have a legit iPhone w/ data plan on AT&T
I told my ladyfriend I'd buy her a cell phone of her choice and she picked an iPhone.
Problem is, she wants to get it from Best Buy (so she can get their "insurance") but here in Chicago they don't have any yet.
other cities?
Nope, plus why do you want the insurance. When I got my friends iPhone from best buy they said it was $15 a month!!! Over the 2 year contract (1 year if you get another iPhone) it comes out to $360!!!!!! Thats the price of a new iPhone. And in one year you can get a new iPhone for the advertised price of $199 when they come out with a new model next year.
Yep! It's one of (if not the only) cool part about having AT&T.
EDIT: Thought of another cool thing I like about AT&T - Rollover Mins
2nd
Are these hot spots free ??
I did not know about this auto authentication, that cool I will have to try it latter.
Big deal. When am I going to get tethering on my iphone?
Well I'm sure if you pointlessly bitch about it on Apple forums some more, you'll get it sooner.
Yes, if you have a legit iPhone w/ data plan on AT&T
Nope, plus why do you want the insurance. When I got my friends iPhone from best buy they said it was $15 a month!!! Over the 2 year contract (1 year if you get another iPhone) it comes out to $360!!!!!! Thats the price of a new iPhone. And in one year you can get a new iPhone for the advertised price of $199 when they come out with a new model next year.
So if i walk in one of 200000 hot spots with my mac i need an att account ??
i guess free is not as cheap as it once was .
no soup for me
Big deal. When am I going to get tethering on my iphone?
When Verizon gets the iPhone, that's when!
SO much for the "Fastest 3G" network that they advertise. Yeah it's fast - especially when you're on their WIFI version of it!
Big deal. When am I going to get tethering on my iphone?
The absurdly easy hack (hint - go to a certain website and download a file) still works...
I'm new to this- why do I need WiFi when I'm paying for 3G? Does this mean it's a total WiFi package- it let's you send email messages,etc? If I'm on someone's Wifi can't they track my calls, texts, websites, etc easier than on 3G? This seems like a step backwards required only because AT&T has a subpar 3G network.
SO much for the "Fastest 3G" network that they advertise. Yeah it's fast - especially when you're on their WIFI version of it!
Why? Because it's free, faster and drains less battery. That enough of a reason?
Oh, and you can still surf while you're on the phone with WiFi speed.
So if i walk in one of 200000 hot spots with my mac i need an att account ??
i guess free is not as cheap as it once was .
no soup for me
Hotspots that were always free will remain free. Hotspots that used to cost money and that were ATT's are now free for the iPhone. Hotspots that were paid and not owned by ATT still cost money. So nothing that used to be free got more expensive, but some things that used to cost, now are free (and have been for about what, a year now?)
I'm new to this- why do I need WiFi when I'm paying for 3G? Does this mean it's a total WiFi package- it let's you send email messages,etc? If I'm on someone's Wifi can't they track my calls, texts, websites, etc easier than on 3G? This seems like a step backwards required only because AT&T has a subpar 3G network.
SO much for the "Fastest 3G" network that they advertise. Yeah it's fast - especially when you're on their WIFI version of it!
You're back to your old trolling again. Stop playing dumb, you either are way dumber than you play, or you are pretending to not understand this.
Oh, and you can still surf while you're on the phone with WiFi speed.
Then the phonecall is on 3G while I surf WIFI? Or is the call on Edge? Does it matter?
Then the phonecall is on 3G while I surf WIFI? Or is the call on Edge? Does it matter?
If you've got 3G coverage the call stays on 3G and you surf w/ WiFi. If you're on EDGE it'll stay on EDGE. Either way you get to surf really quickly while still talking on the phone and the lack of drain on your battery is noticeable (in my experience)