AT&T
Focuses on Wi-Fi with Wayport Acquisition
AT&T
has announced the close of its Wayport, Inc. acquisition. With the
Wayport resources AT&T wants to strengthen its consumer Wi-Fi services
covering broadband access across devices, personalized for the user and
location, and business Wi-Fi applications.
The
Wayport deal, says AT&T, adds local Wi-Fi network management and
infrastructure expertise to AT&T's communications offers and brings its
number of domestic hotspots to nearly 20,000. Globally, the company has
nearly 80,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including roaming locations.
Now,
AT&T is working for the transition of thousands of Starbucks
company-owned stores in the United States to AT&T Wi-Fi service.
Specifically, customers at nearly 7,000 company-operated Starbucks
locations can now access a tailored, online experience – including local
Starbucks content – while logging on to the Internet from their Wi-Fi
enabled smartphones, laptop computers, and other devices.
"Looking ahead, we see Wi-Fi as a strategic opportunity for AT&T," said
Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility
and Consumer Markets.
AT&T
quotes Yankee Group to reveal that the number of Wi-Fi enabled wireless
handsets will grow by at least 175% over the next three years. Other
reports, AT&T says, have projected that more than 1 billion Wi-Fi
enabled devices, including wireless handsets, will be shipped in 2012.
AT&T is
the provider of Wi-Fi enabled devices including the iPhone 3G the
BlackBerry Bold.
The
company promotes Wi-Fi use by enabling free Wi-Fi access to nearly 15
million AT&T wired broadband customers, and millions more wireless
customers, and is a leading provider of Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones.
For
businesses, AT&T Wi-Fi service personalizes their interaction with
customers, and delivers applications that promise reduced operating
costs and increase productivity.
