AT&T Launches Free Wi-Fi for LaptopConnect Customers

Want to move your office to the hottest spot in town? Go right ahead. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced that qualifying LaptopConnect customers can now access more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots free of charge. Users can access Wi-Fi at nearly 7,000 participating Starbucks locations plus thousands more AT&T Wi-Fi(SM) locations, including restaurants, airports, hotels and other convenient locations across the United States.

AT&T LaptopConnect uses AT&T's wireless network to keep customers connected 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 just need to click Connect to access the Wi-Fi connectivity. The offer is available to customers who subscribe to a DataConnect plan of $59.99 or more.(1)

"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 also offers free Wi-Fi access to qualifying broadband subscribers. The company plans to expand free Wi-Fi access to additional wireless customers in the future.

When not in a hotspot, 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., reaching 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 can offer customers data access in more than 145 countries and 3G roaming in 60 countries.

(1) LaptopConnect users must have AT&T Communication Manager (version 6.8 or higher) installed on their PC. Support for free Wi-Fi through AT&T Communication Manager exists only for laptops running Windows operating systems on May 1.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.

Source: NASA