AT&T announced it will acquire WiFi operator Wayport for about $275 million in cash, boosting the number of AT&T-owned hotspots to approximately 20,000 from 17,000.
Not only does the acquisition give AT&T a greater footprint but offers some cost-savings for AT&T too since Wayport had a roaming deal with AT&T to allow its subscriber base to access its hotspots. AT&T offers free WiFi to to its fixed broadband, 3G, iPhone and certain BlackBerry customers.
"We're seeing exponential growth of WiFi-enabled devices -- such as smartphones -- combined with a continued dependency on 24/7, anytime, anywhere Internet access across business and consumer market segments," said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations, in a statement. "Now is the right time for AT&T to affirm our commitment to WiFi leadership."
For more:
- check out this release [1]
Related articles:
iPhone [2] users finally get free WiFi on AT&T hotspots
AT&T [3] dangles free WiFi carrot in front of iPhone users (again)
What's up with free WiFi for iPhone users [4] at AT&T hotspots?
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/t-acquire-wayport-combined-wi-fi-networks-provide-connectivity-more-places
[2] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/iphone-users-finally-get-free-wifi-t-hotspots/2008-11-03
[3] http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-offers-and-then-rescinds-free-wifi-iphone-users-again/2008-07-21
[4] http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/what-s-up-with-free-wifi-for-iphone-users-at-att-hotspots/2008-05-12