AT&T Launches Free Wi-Fi

AT&T today announced that LaptopConnect subscribers can now connect, free of charge, to more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots nationwide. Around 7,000 of these AT&T hot spots are at Starbuck's locations while thousands more are in hotels, airports, restaurants and other locations.

LaptopConnect keeps AT&T customers connected to the Internet wherever they can make a mobile phone call with a $59.99/month DataConnect subscription. With this new Wi-Fi availability qualifying customers will receive a pop-up alerting them that they are in range of one of AT&T's hot spots. Simply clicking connect will then access the Wi-Fi. Customers must first download the latest version of AT&T Communication Manager software to their laptop PC. The software is available for free from AT&T, and comes with a new LaptopConnect card.

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

The free Wi-Fi access is also available to qualifying broadband customers and AT&T plans to expand access to more of its wireless customers in the future. When not in a hot spot, LaptopConnect cards currently use AT&T's 3G network for DSL-like connection speeds in almost 275 markets across the U.S. That number is expected to reach 350 by year's end. AT&T's EDGE network covers over 13,000 cities and towns and 40,000 miles of highways.

[via AT&T]

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