AT&T announced that all of its DSL customers will have free access to its WiFi hotspots throughout the country. DSL subscribers can use any of the company's 10,000 hotspots located in airports, coffee shops, McDonald's restaurants and Barnes & Noble bookstores for free. Connections at AT&T WiFi hotspots for non-subscribers run $7.99 per day.
Last July [1] AT&T announced that subscribers to its highest-speed DSL services could have free access to its WiFi hotspots throughout the country.
Again, iPhone users are left out of the fray, despite the fact that the device supports both EDGE and WiFi. It appears AT&T wants to de-emphasize the WiFi aspect (even though Apple CEO Steve Jobs emphasized the WiFi solution when asked about the drawback of supporting the slower EDGE network [2]) given the fact that the carrier has disabled the WiFi capability in a host of other devices. The view of most carriers is that WiFi will cannibalize their mobile businesses.
For more about AT&T's WiFi access strategy:
- read this release [3]
Related article:
AT&T can provide stability to muni-WiFI market Report [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/t-gives-free-wifi-dsl-subs-not-iphone-users/2007-07-05
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118306134626851922-email.html
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/t-deliver-free-access-nations-largest-wi-fi-network-add-greater-value-leading-broadba
[4] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/t-can-provide-stability-muni-wifi-market/2007-09-17