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AT&T Expanding Wi-Fi Hotspot Zones to Charlotte and Chicago

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Apr 12, 2001
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AT&T today announced the launch of a new hotspot zone located in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, providing an extra layer of coverage enabling higher data speeds while moving traffic off of the carrier's cellular network.
The large outdoor Wi-Fi hotzone provides coverage along South Brevard Street from the area around the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza to East Trade Street, and for AT&T customers waiting to use the nearby Lynx light rail.

The Charlotte, N.C., AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone is the second to be deployed as part of a pilot project to explore using Wi-Fi to supplement AT&T's mobile broadband coverage in areas with consistently high 3G traffic and mobile data use.
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The company launched its first "hotzone" in New York City's Times Square in late May and announced today that will also be deploying one in Chicago "in the coming weeks".

In the most recent quarter, AT&T claimed 68.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, up more than fourfold over the 15 million connections seen in the same quarter in 2009.

Article Link: AT&T Expanding Wi-Fi Hotspot Zones to Charlotte and Chicago
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/26/atandt-expanding-wi-fi-hotspot-zones-to-charlotte-and-chicago/
Huh, how's it working out so far in NY Square?

I don't have an issue where I live personally with AT&T's network, but when I visit the big cities in CA, NY, and PA, I've noticed the network is a lot more flunky...
 
For those of you who don't know Charlotte, the location of the AT&T hotspot zone has basically NOTHING on it. No restaurants, no bars, no nightclubs, no Starbucks, nothing of interest (and yes, that includes the barely-visited NASCAR Hall of Fame).

Let me put it this way: I have lived in downtown Charlotte for ten years and I have NEVER ONCE been on foot on South Brevard Street, even though it's less than one mile from my residence and less than a quarter-mile from my job.
 
KentuckyApple said:
Please put it somewhere in the Loop or by Wrigley.
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The Loop is good, but Wrigley, iPhones will cry much faster with the disappointment that is the Cubs. Loop and Grant Park are amazing places they should really concentrate on.
 
clayj said:
For those of you who don't know Charlotte, the location of the AT&T hotspot zone has basically NOTHING on it. No restaurants, no bars, no nightclubs, no Starbucks, nothing of interest (and yes, that includes the barely-visited NASCAR Hall of Fame).

Let me put it this way: I have lived in downtown Charlotte for ten years and I have NEVER ONCE been on foot on South Brevard Street, even though it's less than one mile from my residence and less than a quarter-mile from my job.
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clayj - You REALLY need to look at this.... Couldn't agree more ! What's weird about that spot is there are two AT&T buildings anchoring the area described. Yes -it's a total dead spot for 3G, or at least it used to be. But outdoor wifi won't help, there's nobody to use it!

The link above is to a post about the weird site selection. And has photos I took showing the AT&T buildings and lack of 3G.
 
MurphyM said:
clayj - You REALLY need to look at this.... Couldn't agree more ! What's weird about that spot is there are two AT&T buildings anchoring the area described. Yes -it's a total dead spot for 3G, or at least it used to be. But outdoor wifi won't help, there's nobody to use it!

The link above is to a post about the weird site selection. And has photos I took showing the AT&T buildings and lack of 3G.
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Seriously, Brevard Street is probably THE most worthless street in downtown Charlotte (by which I mean in close proximity to the Square, not just inside I-277). It's like a back alley to the rest of downtown.

If AT&T wanted to do something useful, they'd've put the WiFi in at the EpiCentre or around the Square/along Tryon Street from 2nd/MLK to 7th.
 
AT&T Wifi hotspots are useless. They are limited (only a handful of establishments in my area that offer this, and they are few in between), and it's not even encrypted.
 
I guess this is good news if you live in Charlotte or Chicago. I don't, so its not really something to get excited about. Time they get around to doing this in my city, it will be old technology... :(
 
I'm sure a big reason there have been so many wi-fi connections this year, compared to last, is the startup of McDonald's free access. I've used this A LOT, even while waiting in line at the drive-thru (passenger, of course). ;)
 
brianbobcat said:
I gotta think that Grant Park, especially Millennium Park, would be ripe for this. Maybe outside of Wrigley, but I think up and down Michigan Ave. would be a lot more likely first.

-Brian
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Chicago "in the coming weeks". Lollapalooza will be at Grant Park in less than 2 weeks. Pretty please AT&T make it Grant Park.
 
ddiamond77 said:
Chicago "in the coming weeks". Lollapalooza will be at Grant Park in less than 2 weeks. Pretty please AT&T make it Grant Park.
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I work as a video director at Lolla (AT&T used to be our client) and AT&T usually beefs up their presence in Chicago during Lolla to handle the extra load.
 
davidgrimm said:
I guess this is good news if you live in Charlotte or Chicago. I don't, so its not really something to get excited about. Time they get around to doing this in my city, it will be old technology... :(
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As stated before, if you live in Charlotte it isn't reason to get excited.

The only thing in that area is parking lots, and a couple of restaurants. The hot zone is great if you suddenly need to get online outside the Nascar Hall of Fame or the Convention Center. In other words, it's an area no one gives a crap about.
 
Not Wrigley...

brianbobcat said:
I gotta think that Grant Park, especially Millennium Park, would be ripe for this. Maybe outside of Wrigley, but I think up and down Michigan Ave. would be a lot more likely first.

-Brian
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The clear choice will be downtown, north Mich/Navy Pier.
 
Seiga said:
The Loop is good, but Wrigley, iPhones will cry much faster with the disappointment that is the Cubs. Loop and Grant Park are amazing places they should really concentrate on.
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Agreed. If anything they should give the sox consideration considering they're the BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL in the last 6 weeks. U.S. Cellular Field should have an AT&T hotspot. Service there is pretty poor, for data at least.
 
My guess will be with Grand Park, seeing how AT&T already provided free Wi-Fi at the Taste of Chicago this year. As jammybastard already noted, AT&T was beefing up presence for Lollapalooza over the years. When AT&T beefed up service, they literally had mobile carts with antennas around Grant Park. Difference during the Taste of Chicago this year? There were no mobile carts visible except for signs advertising free Wi-Fi courtesy of AT&T. Maybe sign of things to come? A pilot program?
 
Time to update this list:

20 THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE CHICAGO CUBS LAST WON THE WORLD SERIES:
1. Radio was invented; Cub fans got to hear their team lose.
2. TV was invented; Cub fans got to see their team lose.
3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cub fans got to see AND hear their team lose to more teams.
4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th,70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.
5. Halley’s Comet passed Earth… twice.
6. Harry Caray was born… and died. Incredible, but true.
7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won championships in each league.
8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs pitchers.
9. Sixteen US presidents were elected.
10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.
11. Prohibition was created, and repealed.
12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered, and became the subject of major motion pictures… the latter giving Cub fans hope that something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.
13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League.
14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team’s future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted and been taken down.
15. A combination of more than 40 summer & winter Olympics have been held.
16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several thanked Cubs pitchers.
17. Bell bottoms came in style, went out of style, and came back in style.
18. The Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Florida Marlins have ALL won the World Series.
19. The Cubs played 14,153 regular-season games; they lost the majority of them.
20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and New Mexico were added to the Union.
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21. AT&T expands WiFi hotspot in Chicago. Cubs fans get to hear their team lose on the MLB At Bat app. :D
 
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