The Reader

http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/IEEPztEmXW8/

Sent to you by Bill Boulware via Google Reader: AT&T Expands Free Wi-Fi
Program to Alleviate Data Congestion via Mashable! by Lauren Indvik on
7/26/10


In a continued effort to alleviate data congestion in highly-trafficked
areas, AT&T today announced the deployment of its second U.S. Wi-Fi
hotzone in Charlotte, N.C., as well as its plans to open a third in
Chicago in the coming weeks.

The Charlotte hotzone provides coverage from the area around the NASCAR
Hall of Fame Plaza on South Brevard Street to East Trade Street, and
the nearby area around the Lynx light rail stop. Visitors and local
residents can access the network via their Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones,
laptops, netbooks and other devices. Smartphones that support
auto-authentication should automatically switch over from their 3G
service to the free Wi-Fi when they are within range.

In May, AT&T rolled out its first free Wi-Fi hotzone in Times Square in
New York City. The cellular network has been hounded by press and
consumers since the iPhone joined its device roster in 2007, and these
hotzones should alleviate constant complaints about dropped calls and
slow data loading in these areas. In addition, any data usage in the
zones won't count against monthly plan limits.

According to AT&T, its ability to handle Wi-Fi connections on its
network has "grown tremendously"; in the second quarter of 2010, the
cellular network was able to support 68.1 million Wi-Fi connections,
more than four times the amount it was able to support in the same
quarter a year ago.

AT&T users: Have you noticed an improvement in service over the past
several months? Or is your city still in desperate need of its own
hotzone?

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, SVLumagraphica

More About: att, iphone, Mobile 2.0, wi-fi

For more Mobile coverage:
- Follow Mashable Mobile on Twitter
- Become a Fan on Facebook
- Subscribe to the Mobile channel
- Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad



Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Mashable! using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your
favorite sites

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

• New Members 84