3G Network Transforms City Into Metropolitan "Hot Spot"
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of people living or
visiting The Big Easy will no longer need to rely on wired connections for
broadband access to information as Cingular transforms the city into a
wireless super speedway.
Cingular today begins offering its 3G mobile wireless broadband service
throughout the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area. Cingular customers
can now use Cingular's 3G mobile broadband network to rapidly access
e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, watch video
clips while on-the-go strolling along the scenic streets of Riverwalk
Marketplace, shopping on famous Royal Street, the attending classes at UNO
or waiting in the New Orleans International Airport.
Cingular 3G not only offers advanced wireless services, such as viewing
video clips, it enhances existing services by making them run faster.
Customers can now download a game or ringtone, or access e-mail, in a
fraction of the time it used to take. Additionally, Cingular customers
using a 3G handset with a data rate plan package can access all the
company's data services whenever they're connected to the Cingular network.
"Whether you are a small business owner, a student, or a frequent
traveler you're always on the go and need quick access to information,"
said Joe Larussa, vice president and general manager, Cingular Wireless,
Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana/NW Florida. "Our 3G service gives our
customers the ability to watch news, sports and entertainment highlights,
weather forecasts and more on their phone while waiting in line at the
airport or grabbing a seat at a restaurant. We're providing customers with
an 'invisible wire' that extends their broadband experience beyond their
office or home."
Cingular's 3G network provides average download data speeds between
400- 700 kilobits per second with bursts to over one megabit per second.
The company currently provides 3G services in 145 major metropolitan areas
including 65 of the top 100 largest cities in 33 states, Puerto Rico and
Washington D.C.
HSDPA/UMTS technology makes it possible for people to enjoy a wide
variety of wireless content and gives Cingular the advantage of offering
simultaneous voice and data services to customers based upon the global
standard for wireless communications - GSM. For businesses and consumers,
this means more feature-rich services and content, and for Cingular, a more
economical method for carrying traffic and more efficient use of spectrum.
PERSONAL MOBILITY - FAST AND FURIOUS
Customers who want to watch video highlights of the New Orleans Saints
game or view highlights of a number of HBO's series including "Curb Your
Enthusiasm," "Entourage" or "The Wire," can see it all -- and more -- by
signing up for Cingular Video. Cingular Video is an on-demand streaming
video service with a large selection of popular mobile content that can be
viewed on 3G-capable Cingular phones.
"We've tailored Cingular Video so that customers can quickly and easily
personalize and access the information that's most important to them," said
Larussa.
Cingular Video includes local weather forecasts in 100 cities across
the country. Basic Cingular Video service includes more options for
families from media outlets including ABC TV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim,
CMT, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Disney Mobile Studios, ESPN, FOX
Sports, FOX News, FOX TV, FUEL, HBO Family (premium), HBO Mobile (premium),
iFilm, Jayski Alerts, MTV, Music Choice, NASCAR.com To Go (premium), NCAA
Championship Sports Content, NBC, Nickelodeon, Richard Childress Racing,
SPEED, Spike, The Weather Channel, TV Guide Channel and VH1.
Cingular currently offers 3G service on several devices including the
LG CU500 phone, the Samsung Sync, and the Samsung BlackJack and Cingular
8525 PDAs. The company is adding several other handsets to its product line
in the coming months. Prices for Cingular 3G handsets start at $49 after a
$50 mail- in rebate for a two-year service plan commitment. Cingular Video
requires a $19.99 MEdia Net Unlimited data package. Premium content, such
as HBO Mobile, is available on an additional monthly subscription basis,
while other content, such as music video clips from Music Choice, is
available on a pay-per-view basis for a 24-hour period of time.
MOBILIZING BUSINESS AT HIGH-SPEED
Utilizing its 3G network, Cingular's LaptopConnect solutions give
businesses the ability to use their laptops to access the Internet or
e-mail, download large files and attachments, or run corporate business
applications at average data speeds between 400-700Kbps (kilobits per
second) on the downlink, with bursts to more than one megabit per second.
"Businesses need the same fast reliable access to information whether
they're working from a desktop in their office or making a presentation at
an offsite location," said Gerald Denicola, director of sales for
Cingular's East Louisiana market. "They don't want to wait for a large
contract to download or access their company's intranet site to check
inventory status. With BroadbandConnect, they don't have to anymore."
Cingular LaptopConnect combines either an external LaptopConnect card
or an integrated modem within a Laptop and Cingular's Communication Manager
to provide access to the 3G network. The service also offers additional
security features compared to alternative wireless technologies.
Customers can purchase either an Option Wireless or Sierra Wireless
laptop modem card for $49.99, after rebate, when they sign up for a
qualifying voice plan and two-year, Unlimited Data Connect plan. Customers
can also purchase a Dell Latitude D620 or Dell Latitude D820 at
http://www.cingular.com/dell. Cingular's Unlimited DataConnect plan
currently is $59.99 for customers who sign up for a two year term and have
a qualifying voice plan with Cingular.
Additionally, business customers traveling outside the United States
can select one of two international data plans. Cingular DataConnect North
America ($109.99 for 100MB) for travel within Canada and Mexico, and
DataConnect Global ($139.99 for 100MB), an overseas plan -- both include
unlimited data usage on Cingular's domestic data networks. Cingular is the
first and only carrier in the world to offer a single card/single rate plan
solution for international travelers.
All Cingular LaptopConnect cards and Integrated modems are tri-band
HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS (Enhanced Data Rates
for Global Evolution/General Packet Radio Service) in four bands
(850/900/1800/1900Mhz), which means the devices are interoperable between
the company's nationwide EDGE network and it's 3G network. Additionally,
customers can use the cards to access broadband service in approximately a
dozen countries, and other data connections in more than 100 countries.
THE TECHNOLOGY: HSDPA/UMTS
HSDPA is the high-speed evolution of GSM/EDGE (Global System for Mobile
Communication), which shares a common core network and therefore is
backward compatible with EDGE/GPRS.
In areas where the 3G network is not available, customers will receive
service on the company's EDGE network. The Cingular EDGE network is
available to 270 million people in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in
areas along 40,000 miles of highways, providing average data speeds up to
135Kbps. GSM is the world's most popular wireless technology, which is used
by international wireless carriers to serve more than two billion people
worldwide, and enabling Cingular customers to make/receive voice calls in
nearly 200 countries.
The launch is part of the company's $165 million investment in its
Louisiana network this year. Over the past three years, Cingular has
invested more than $350 million in the area adding new cell sites, new
switching facilities, back-up generators and batteries and improving
overall coverage and capacity.
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States,
serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of AT&T Inc.
(NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital
voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the
largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.
Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G
network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA
(High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S.
wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets
customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are
available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases
emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/.
SOURCE Cingular Wireless
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Related links:
http://www.cingular.com
http://www.cingular.com/dell
http://cingular.mediaroom.com//
CONTACT:
Dawn Benton of Cingular Wireless,
+1-404-236-5305, or wireless, +1-404-202-6335, or
dawn.benton@cingular.com
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