AT&T today reported dramatic growth in the number of Wi-Fi users among their nearly 20,000 domestic hotspots, such as Starbucks. AT&T Wi-Fi connections totaled 10.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 – more than triple the 3.4 million connections in the first quarter of 2008. Some 40 Percent of AT&T WiFi connections came from mobiles.
AT&T’s saw a huge spike in WiFi use during the first quarter of 2009, driven by its growing base of customers as well as its acquistion of WiFi operations for Starbucks coffee shops. AT&T reported authenticating 10.5 million WiFi connections across its 20,000 US hotspot network in the first quarter of 2009. That’s more than triple the 3.5 million connections in the first quarter of 2008 and more than half of the total for all of 2008.
More than 4 million connections at AT&T’s U.S. Hot Spots in the first quarter were made with smartphones, including the iPhone 3G. AT&T is a leading provider of Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, including the BlackBerry Bold.
AT&T broadband connections – using both wireline and 3G wireless cards – grew by 471,000 in the first quarter to reach 16.7 million. AT&T provides Wi-Fi access at no extra charge with qualifying AT&T high speed Internet plans, 3G LaptopConnect plans and select smartphone plans.
The number and type of Wi-Fi enabled devices is expected to grow even more. In January, Sony introduced the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled digital camera with a built-in web browser and free access to AT&T’s Wi-Fi network. The Eye-Fi Explore card ($99) includes 1 year of Wayport Hotspot Access. AT&T is also offering wirelessly embedded mini laptops – the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, and LG Xenia — in select AT&T store trial promotions in Atlanta and Philadelphia.
In the first quarter, Wayport – which AT&T acquired in December 2008 – began operating as AT&T Wi-Fi Services. Wayport’s footprint included hotspot locations in retail, hospitality and healthcare venues in nearly 20,000 hotspots in the U.S. – and access to more than 80,000 global hotspots through roaming agreements.
