AT&T Mobility,As part of its commitment to provide a smooth transition for former Unicel customers in Vermont, AT&T today announced it has integrated all cell sites in the legacy Unicel network AT&T acquired in Vermont, with AT&T’s existing nationwide wireless network. AT&T is moving forward with plans to launch its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Vermont later this year. AT&T acquired Unicel in December 2008.This development represents nearly six months of intense labor during which AT&T optimized cell signals in an effort to create the kind of high-quality wireless experience AT&T customers have come to expect across the country, and paves the way for future network enhancements across the state. AT&T’s wireless network in Vermont is monitored twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at AT&T’s state-of-the-art Global Network Operations Center. This facility manages all of AT&T’s voice and data traffic and provides visibility into network performance in Vermont, allowing the company to better maintain its infrastructure, analyze network performance, and ensure network capacity to meet customer demand. AT&T also has a dedicated network team in place locally, who can be rapidly dispatched to individual cell sites or switching centers, including a newly built AT&T network facility in White River Junction, should the need arise.Since AT&T closed its acquisition of Unicel’s Vermont assets in December 2008, it has added ten new cell sites, bringing new or expanded coverage to customers in Rochester, Wilmington, Lincoln, Williston, Cuttingsville, Essex Junction, Springfield, Westfield, Fairfield and Enosburg Falls. Three additional cell sites are planned for later this year in Plainfield, Poultney and Eden.”The integration and expansion of AT&T’s wireless network is another important step towards our goal of having the assets that will bring mobility and broadband connectivity to every corner of Vermont,” said Governor Jim Douglas. “This is an important economic development tool. If we are to attract good paying companies to locate in Vermont, we must provide broadband connectivity. The State will continue to work closely with AT&T and other service providers who are making critical infrastructure investments in Vermont to help make ubiquitous broadband and wireless access a reality as soon as possible.””While this investment represents a significant milestone, we are committed to bringing expanded wireless coverage and advanced services to our Vermont customers,” said Joseph Divis, vice president of external affairs, for AT&T in the Northeast region. “In fact, with integration complete, we can now begin the task of expanding the nation’s fastest 3G network in to the state.”AT&T is moving forward with plans to launch its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Vermont later this year, bringing faster wireless speeds to communities including Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Albans, Hartford, Ludlow, Brownsville, Windsor, Vernon, White River Junction, West Wardsboro, Jamaica, Brattleboro, West Townshend, West Dover, Jeffersonville, Barre, Waitsfield, Essex Junction, South Burlington, Colchester, Williston, Winooski, Warren, Stowe, Killington, Northfield, Montgomery Center, Bennington, Middlebury and Pownal.AT&T’s 3G wireless network is available in nearly 350 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and is ranked as the nation’s fastest according to data compiled by leading independent research firms.In response to growing demand for its highly desirable wireless products and services in Vermont, AT&T has added more than 75 new jobs, predominantly sales and customer support positions, across the state. In addition, AT&T is bringing “the store to your door” with a mobile retail store in a retro-fitted RV traveling throughout areas where AT&T has limited brick-and-mortar locations. The RV, a 31-foot AT&T-branded vehicle equipped with the latest wireless devices, has already made several stops this summer in Stowe, Ferrisburgh, Randolph and Thetford. AT&T plans to announce additional RV retail tour locations in the coming weeks.”Our sales team is available to assist customers, especially those transitioning from Unicel, to help them find the right wireless solution to meet their individual needs. Whether they are checking e-mail, uploading video or using award-winning applications like AT&T Navigator, AT&T lets today’s wireless customers make the most of their mobile experience,” added Steve Krom, vice president and general manager for AT&T New England. “From road warriors to texting teens, twice as many Smartphone users in the U.S. have chosen AT&T over any other wireless carrier. We have something for everyone.”There are ten AT&T-owned retail locations in Vermont. AT&T’s products and services are also available at a number of authorized dealer and national retail locations.To find out more details about AT&T’s wireless coverage in Vermont or anywhere in the United States, consumers can go to http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/(link is external). The online tool provides up-to-date wireless coverage information for specific locations. The tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.About AT&TAT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com(link is external). This AT&T news release and other announcements are available athttp://www.att.com/newsroom(link is external) and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss(link is external). Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT(link is external) to discover more about our consumer and wireless services.(C) 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsInformation set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.Source: AT&T. BURLINGTON, Vt., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —
read more