AT&T claims that, based on independent market research,
twice as many smartphone users have chosen AT&T over any other U.S.
carrier.
They attribute their success to the fastest 3G network and nearly
20,000 U.S. Wi-Fi hotspots offers and
AT&T's industry-leading lineup of iconic devices, including
BlackBerry Bold (available for free with refurb package) and Nokia E71x.
We, however, would add the iPhone. Another new smartpone they offer is the Samsung Jack. The prices for the newer smartphones such as the Nokia E71x and Samsung Jack can be as low as $50 or free to new customers which also contribute to smartphones subscriber growth.
AT&T says they will soon launch an advertising campaign that highlights
its smartphone leadership.
In addition to smartphones, which are devices that use open
operating systems like Windows Mobile or OS X, AT&T sayst it is at the
forefront of a new category of full-QWERTY consumer devices known as
"quick messaging phones" that bring text and picture messaging, IM, and
mobile data applications to the masses. Together, smartphones and quick
messaging phones comprise AT&T's integrated device portfolio, which
has more than doubled in subscribers over the past year. They often offer deals on the Samsung Propel and Samsung Impression at great prices.
As the popularity of text messaging and other mobile data
applications continues to soar, customers are upgrading to integrated
devices in record numbers. During the first quarter of this year, more
new and existing customers activated integrated devices than AT&T
added in new postpaid customers. Nearly 32 percent of AT&T's
postpaid subscribers now use an integrated device.
AT&T currently provides customers with smartphones across five
different open operating systems and the portfolio includes nine
Wi-Fi-capable devices, and five touch screen phones. All AT&T
smartphones are world phones because they operate on the GSM standard,
which is used by more than 89 percent of global subscribers. Only
AT&T offers international calling in more than 215 countries and
data service in more than 170.