Press Release
October 14, 2002
AT&T Wireless "Turns On" the World's Capital
New York last major market for company's next generation wireless network
NEW YORK - AT&T Wireless (NYSE:AWE) today brings its next-generation network to New York, and with it, powerful new wireless applications for businesses and consumers. People in the Big Apple can now use a wireless phone to take and send photos, find friends or restaurants, play games, and of course, call someone.
AT&T Wireless said turning on its next generation GSM™ (Global Standard for Mobile Communications) /GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network in New York completes the first phase of a 3G migration plan announced in October 2000 -- ahead of schedule and on budget. The company said it will continue to extend and enhance the network over the coming year, including areas acquired with the purchase of TeleCorp.
"Since launching service in Seattle last year, we quickly made our next generation wireless services available to millions of customers in hundreds of cities across the country," said Mohan Gyani, president of AT&T Wireless Mobility Division. "Now, New Yorkers can enjoy innovative wireless services that will help them manage and simplify their lives."
AT&T Wireless' next generation network provides high quality voice service and fast access to information. Whether emailing photos of Times Square to friends, playing games while relaxing in Central Park, or checking a website to find the nearest restaurant, people can use AT&T Wireless to stay connected simply, quickly and affordably.
Additionally, AT&T Wireless offers customers in the New York area the first truly unlimited national wireless calling plan. For a limited time, customers can select the AT&T Wireless National Charter plan and receive unlimited voice calling - any day, any time - for a monthly fee of $99.99. Customers can also select a variety of high-speed wireless data services, including the company's mModesm service, for as little as $2.99 a month. Both services use the company's next generation GSM/GPRS network.
"The features available with these new offers will change the way people use their wireless phones," said Gyani. "Unlimited voice calling means our customers don't have to keep an eye on their watch and wallet while talking. Providing access to information 'on-the-go' enables businesses and consumers to enjoy the freedom of a wireless world and have quick access to the information they need."
Additionally, in connection with the launch of the New York market, AT&T Wireless is offering several new devices for customers - with rebates on many in time for the holiday season. Consumers who want to take advantage of voice and high-speed data services on the company's GSM/GPRS network can choose from the following wireless devices available at AT&T Wireless stores and select retailers:
- Nokia 6590 Smart Classic (NEW - $149.99 after rebate) - changeable fashion covers, voice dialing and recording.
- Nokia 3590 Expression (NEW - $79.99 after rebate) - JAVA, changeable fashion covers, voice dialing, 500 contact phonebook.
- Siemens SX56 Pocket PC with voice calling capabilities (NEW - $549.99) - Robust Pocket PC that doubles as a phone and comes preloaded with Office Online providing access to corporate email, personal email, and much more.
- Sony Ericsson T68i ($149.99 after rebate) - a color screen, and Bluetooth wireless technology and an optional camera attachment to use for photo messaging.
- Nokia 8390 ($99.99 after rebate) - changeable fashion covers, voice dialing and recording.
- Siemens S46 ($99.99) - multi-band GSM/GPRS/TDMA designed for the international traveler.
- Coming Soon: Motorola T720 ($249.99 after rebate) - large color display screen, polyphonic ringtones, JAVA, changeable fashion covers. (Available in the coming weeks).
- Coming Soon: Nokia 6310i ($129.99 after rebate) - Bluetooth™ wireless technology, JAVA, voice dialing and recording. (Available in the coming weeks).
- Coming Soon: BlackBerry 5810 Wireless Handheld™ ($299.99 after rebate) - Previously available only to corporate customers, this Java-enabled, BlackBerry device will soon be available in AT&T Wireless retail locations. The BlackBerry 5810 doubles as a phone and provides access to corporate email, calendar, and contacts lists.
STRICTLY BUSINESS
AT&T Wireless offers a suite of business solutions to give mobile professionals the freedom to stay connected to their critical corporate information while on the go.
- For small businesses, AT&T Wireless' Office Online acts as a "remote control" for real-time access to compatible corporate and personal e-mail accounts from any mMode capable handset, Pocket PC, or laptop. Customers can also manage their calendar and contacts, get to their Global Address List, and receive alerts when priority messages arrive in their Inbox.
- For medium and large size companies, AT&T Wireless offers AT&T Wireless WorkWaresm. Developed with Microsoft, AT&T Wireless WorkWare is a suite of business solutions designed to provide seamless, wireless access to company e-mail, information and other applications behind corporate firewalls. To simplify access from any wireless-ready laptop to Microsoft Outlook™ over corporate virtual private networks (VPN's), customers will receive a custom "one-button synch" software wizard called Link+Sync that will provide easy access over our high-speed wireless data network. For the new Siemens SX56 Pocket PC's, customers benefit from a unique over-the-air activation and centralized provisioning process eliminates the need for IT personnel to manually install applications on each device.
- For BlackBerry™ fans, AT&T Wireless will offer two BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds™ and a new set of pricing plans. The BlackBerry 5810 Wireless Handheld, available now, allows employees to manage real-time corporate e-mail and phone calls on one device. In the coming weeks, AT&T Wireless will introduce the BlackBerry 6710 Wireless Handheld that includes an integrated speaker and microphone, web browsing capabilities, and international roaming capabilities for voice and data. In addition, the company will begin offering a new set of BlackBerry data usage plans later this week, including a plan offering unlimited BlackBerry email and web browsing for just $49.99 per month.
- Business customers can also use AT&T Wireless Mobile Connection and a Sierra Wireless Modem card to wirelessly enable their laptops or Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs. This service offers a direct, high-speed connection to corporate e-mail, the Internet, Intranet and other Web-based applications and data.
Depending on the device used, customers can receive data speeds on the order of 25-30Kbps for phones and 35-40Kbps for PDAs and laptops equipped with wireless modems. Additionally, when data compression service is turned on, the perceived speed of common Internet applications running on PDAs and laptops could nearly triple. The end result is that customers using laptops and Pocket PC's will experience speeds comparable to, or faster than, the traditional dial-up speeds most people experience on their home desktop computers.
AT&T Wireless provides full end-to-end business solutions support, specialized enterprise customer care, a customized billing and management system, security features and a national sales force with wireless data expertise. For pricing, availability and more information about these and other business solutions from AT&T Wireless, please visit www.attwireless.com/mobilepro.
GSM/GPRS Service is available nationwide in more than 5,000 cities in the United States including major markets such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. Customers can also take their AT&T Wireless phone to more than 50 international countries and use many features of the phone and its services the same way they do at home. International rates apply.
GSM is the most widely used wireless voice technology in the world. Carriers using GSM serve more than 70 percent of wireless voice customers worldwide. Additionally, GPRS is being adopted by wireless carriers worldwide to provide high-speed data services.
Customers in AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS markets can get more information on the AT&T Wireless National Charter Plans at www.attwireless.com/mobileinternet or by calling 1-877-400-1080. Additional information about AT&T Wireless' mMode service is available at www.attwireless.com/mmode/.
About AT&T Wireless
AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) is the largest independently traded wireless carrier in the United States, following our split from AT&T on July 9, 2001. We operate one of the largest digital wireless networks in North America. With more than 19.5 million subscribers, and full-year 2001 revenues exceeding $13.6 billion, AT&T Wireless is committed to being among the first to deliver the next generation of wireless products and services. Today, we offer customers high-quality mobile wireless communications services, voice or data, to businesses or consumers, in the U.S. and internationally. AT&T Wireless Customer Advantage is our commitment to ensure that customers have the right equipment, the right calling plan, and the right customer services options -- today and tomorrow. For more information, please visit us at http://www.attwireless.com.
