AT&T Wireless Delivers 3G In Four Markets

Working with NTT DoCoMo, AT&T Wireless has launched a commercial 3G wireless data service in four U.S. cities.

From AT&T Wireless’ press release:

AT&T Wireless today began offering customers in Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle broadband mobile wireless services with its launch of the first commercially-available true 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network in the United States. The company said it is also deploying UMTS technology in Dallas and San Diego, and expects to offer service in these markets before the end of this year.

AT&T Wireless said its wireless broadband service turns these markets into “metropolitan hotspots,” offering customers continuous, high-speed wireless connections. Customers can now use a handset, PDA or laptop to receive streaming audio and video services; create and share video clips; experience richer and more visually compelling content; and connect to critical business information, in most areas throughout these cities. The company also noted that it launched commercial service in these four cities in fulfillment of NTT DoCoMo’s shareholder rights agreement.

“We’re delivering on our promise to offer 3G wireless services in the U.S., and bring the benefits to American consumers and businesses,” said John Zeglis, AT&T Wireless Chairman and CEO. “In a few short years, we’ve increased wireless data speeds more than tenfold across the country. Today’s announcement enables our customers to access information, video, and audio on their wireless device faster than most people do from their wired computer at home,” he added.

Today’s commercial launch is made possible by our strategic relationships with equipment and device manufacturers, content providers and a host of leading high-tech companies,” Zeglis said. “In particular, our collaborators and partners at NTT DoCoMo played a major role in helping us bring our 3G services to market.”

“AT&T Wireless customers can now experience advanced wireless services similar to those offered to our customers in Japan,” said Dr. Keiji Tachikawa, the former President and CEO of NTT DoCoMo, who now serves on the company’s Board of Directors. “We are glad to have worked with AT&T Wireless over the past three years as they have established themselves as the North American leader in wireless data services, and today, as they launch true, commercial 3G wireless to the United States.”

AT&T Wireless said the four-city UMTS (also known as W-CDMA) deployment is the next logical step for delivering 3G services on the world-standard GSM