AT&T Launches Wi-Fi Hotzone on Palo Alto's Popular University Avenue

DALLAS, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has launched an AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Zone in Silicon Valley to provide Wi-Fi coverage on Palo Alto's University Avenue, the heart of the city's popular retail, entertainment and restaurants near Stanford University.

The new hotzone will provide fast and reliable Wi-Fi near the 300 block to the 500 block of University Avenue, which consistently sees high customer traffic and mobile data use. AT&T customers with qualifying high speed Internet, smartphone or LaptopConnect plans get unlimited access to AT&T hotzones at no additional cost.

Palo Alto is the sixth major market where AT&T has launched Wi-Fi hotzones, following locations in San Francisco, New York City, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, and Austin. Hotzones provide convenient connectivity to AT&T's Wi-Fi network and add data network capacity for customers in high traffic areas, and AT&T is the only major mobile operator using Wi-Fi in this way.

"As the center of technology and innovation, Palo Alto is proud to be one of the first cities in the country to have a Wi-Fi hotzone deployed in its downtown corridor," said Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa. "We appreciate that AT&T is making this investment in our community."

"The Chamber applauds AT&T's expansion of Wi-Fi coverage in Palo Alto," said Paula Sandas, President and CEO, Palo Alto Chamber. "Wireless connectivity in today's business is a requirement, not a luxury. Our businesses depend on reliable wireless connectivity for their day-to-day operations."

In May, AT&T announced an agreement with Stanford University Athletics to provide Wi-Fi across nine Stanford Athletics venues, offering fans expanded wireless and broadband connectivity to enhance the game-day experience. AT&T's investments with Stanford Athletics and in the new hotzone further emphasize AT&T's commitment to providing a better wireless experience in Palo Alto.

"In an area where we're seeing more connectivity and mobile data use across AT&T's networks, our hotzones provide customers with the added benefit of logging onto AT&T Wi-Fi in more locations," said Ken McNeely, AT&T President-California. "We're focused on increasing our coverage and enhancing the customer experience in the Palo Alto area, and we are excited to continue efforts with the launch of our second Wi-Fi hotzone in the past year for AT&T customers in California."

AT&T's focus is delivering the nation's most advanced mobile broadband experience, which includes delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.  

Many of the most popular AT&T smartphones can automatically connect at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, making it easy for customers to find and use AT&T Wi-Fi. Customers can use AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Zones and nearly 27,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide — the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** — without it counting toward their monthly smartphone data usage. AT&T plans to deploy additional hotzones in other urban areas across the country with consistently high data use.

*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.

**Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.  A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. 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.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.