AT&T has had explosive Wi-Fi growth. In the third quarter, AT&T users made 106.9 million connections to AT&T's U.S. Wi-Fi network, which is much greater than the 85.5 million connections made during the entire year in 2009.
Wi-Fi is seeing tremendous growth from the rapid consumer adoption of Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones and devices and is also seeing increased number of major business locations offering Wi-Fi access for their customers. AT&T claims to operate the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with more than 23,000 hotspots nationwide.Many of the most popular AT&T smartphones support auto-authentication at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, making it automatic and convenient for AT&T customers to connect. When the smartphone is connected to Wi-Fi, it doesn't rob resources from AT&T's 3G network.
AT&T also continued expanding its Wi-Fi Hotzone project in the third quarter with the launch of two hotzones -- in downtown Charlotte, N.C., and Chicago's Wrigleyville, near Wrigley Field. This is in addition to the first AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone launched in New York City's Times Square earlier this year. The hotzone trial is providing valuable insights on how Wi-Fi and 3G technologies can work together to maximize customers' broadband experiences, with better-than-expected customer response and usage at AT&T hotzone locations.