AT&T Celebrates Opening of New High-Tech Store in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced the opening of a high-tech retail store in Springfield. The store offers a unique way for customers to interact with and shop for a wide array of communications and entertainment services, including a hands-on demonstration area to engage customers and provide a "try before you buy" service experience.  

"We all use our phones and wireless devices more than ever," said State Rep. Raymond Poe. "This expanded store will offer the latest devices that consumers want and businesses need. Wireless telecommunications is one area of the economy that is growing and we need to keep it growing."

The new Springfield location showcases a wide range of products and services, including the latest in mobile devices such as the Motorola Atrix™, the HTC Status™, the Samsung Focus™ and the BlackBerry® Torch™. Customers visiting the store can test drive various wireless data applications, including AT&T Navigator™ which provides GPS navigation with turn-by-turn directions, or AT&T Family Map, a family locator service designed to help give parents peace of mind.  

"People love their smartphones and tablets and this new, expanded AT&T retail store will help them see a wide variety of the latest choices," said State Sen. Larry Bomke. "An expanded store is good news for our local economy."

"Our new store redefines the sales experience by allowing consumers to test drive our entire portfolio of products and services in an innovative way," said AT&T Illinois Vice President and General Manager Dave Fine. "Our goal is to help people choose the best mix of products and services that meet their individual needs to stay connected everywhere they live and work."

AT&T recently implemented its "Retail Promise" program to ensure that customers have the very best in-store shopping experience, based on their needs. The company uses its own wireless technology to quickly capture customers' comments, and posts this information to a website for store managers to review.  

The Illinois store builds upon AT&T's overall commitment to the region. AT&T is continuing to expand and enhance its presence in central Illinois, ensuring consumers have convenient access to the latest in communications and entertainment services. Between 2008 and 2010, AT&T invested more than $3.8 billion in its wireless and wireline networks in Illinois.  

"This store opening is more great news. It's yet another example of AT&T investment in Illinois since state lawmakers passed and Gov. Quinn signed a new, modern telecommunications law for our state," said AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza.

Year-to-date, AT&T has activated 20 new cell sites, upgraded more than 40 cell sites with mobile broadband technology and added new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to over 900 cell sites in Illinois. Between 2008 and 2010, AT&T invested more than $3.8 billion in its Illinois wireless and wireline networks.  

Located at 2410 W. Wabash, store hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Store Manager Robert Smithers and his knowledgeable sales consultants are ready to assist customers—both business and consumer—with purchasing decisions and technical support.

To help celebrate the opening of this new store, AT&T will offer a free Samsung Focus to customers who purchase a two-year service agreement and data plan.

There are more than 70 AT&T owned-stores in Illinois. AT&T's products and services are also available at a number of authorized dealer and national retail locations.  

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.