“The pilot program will offer free Wi-Fi access to AT&T wireless and broadband customers using smartphones, laptops, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices,” Reardon reports. “AT&T’s Wi-Fi network is set up on the north side of Times Square on Seventh Avenue between 45th and 47th Streets.”
“The program is designed to see how Wi-Fi can help relieve wireless data congestion on AT&T’s network. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices will connect to the Wi-Fi network instead of AT&T’s 3G network to access the Internet or Web-based applications,” Reardon reports. “If all goes well, AT&T said it may expand the offering to other cities.”
“AT&T, the exclusive carrier in the U.S. for the iPhone, has been struggling to keep up with demand for data services on its network. The company has reported that due to new devices like the iPhone it’s seen mobile data traffic grow on its network 5,000 percent in three years,” Reardon reports. “The extra traffic, particularly in densely populated locales such as New York City and San Francisco, has caused problems for consumers in the way of dropped calls and slow Net access.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward W.” for the heads up.]
Well goody two shoes for times square. Glad to see they’re using my money to improve the network here…not. What about the rest of us?
Mw: position. Get it?
So at New Year’s there should be a few iPads in Times Square, eh?
All the Starbucks and ATT internet hotspots in that area should have 3G to Internet at these locations. That way they could off load to to Internet. Then you would not have to enable wifi.
Seems reasonable, but would it be possible. May be government regulations and all that may prevent that.
@ron – no stealing
Great. Remote detonation without need for a cell signal.
who even goes to times square? besides tourists and terrorists.
Eagerly awaiting the “Well don’t bother sticking any wifi in the Bronx, no iPads are allowed at Yankee Stadium!”
Ugh.
@ flirtsquirt: Besides millions of people who attend Broadway plays each year or the almost 100,000 people (like the employees of Morgan Stanley) who work within walking distance of Time Square?
So it is not really “free” you have to already be an AT&T;drone.