AT&T making tourists even more annoying with free Times Square WiFi
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 25th 2010 7:30AM
posted May 25th 2010 7:30AM
[Photo courtesy of MarkArms]
AT&T Launches Pilot Wi-Fi Project in Times Square
New Wi-Fi Hotzone Prototype to Help New Yorkers and Visitors Stay Connected in "America's Crossroads," One of the Busiest Locations in the World
New York, New York, May 25, 2010
AT&T* today announced the launch of an AT&T Wi-Fi "hotzone" in New York City's bustling Times Square, providing coverage for many AT&T customers visiting and residing in New York who use Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, laptops, netbooks and other devices. The new Wi-Fi coverage zone is a pilot deployment to explore the use of Wi-Fi to provide an additional mobile broadband option in areas with consistently high 3G traffic and mobile data use.
AT&T has installed Wi-Fi service in the north central part of Times Square, near 7th Avenue between 45th and 47th Street, to provide a large outdoor hotspot zone that AT&T users can access using any Wi-Fi enabled device. The AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone at Times Square is available at no additional charge for nearly 32 million AT&T customers with qualifying smartphone, 3G LaptopConnect and AT&T High Speed Internet plans.
AT&T is using wireless technologies to mobilize everything that's important to customers - their favorite content, apps, entertainment and social networks. AT&T today delivers the nation's fastest 3G wireless network as well as the nation's largest Wi-Fi network, giving customers the best combination of speed and coverage.
"Whether they're emailing photos and videos to friends back home, downloading a restaurant review, or ordering discount Broadway tickets online, people in Times Square want the mobile broadband connection that lets them get the most done in the least amount of time," said John Donovan, AT&T chief technology officer. "With this pilot AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone, we're examining new ways to combine our Wi-Fi and 3G networks to help ensure that AT&T customers in Times Square always have a fast mobile broadband connection to do what matters most to them. It's another example of how AT&T is exploring the ideal blend of technologies to maximize the mobile experience for our customers in New York City."
While managing nationwide mobile data traffic growth of 5,000 percent over the past three years, AT&T has made significant investments and driven a number of new innovations to deliver the best possible customer experience. Examples of these innovations include AT&T 3G MicroCell devices to expand in-home coverage; Distributed Antenna System networks to extend 3G coverage in stadiums, convention halls and other areas where people congregate; and temporary network enhancements to support one-time events and emergency situations.
Based on the results from the pilot location, AT&T may deploy additional hotzones in other areas across the country where more ubiquitous Wi-Fi availability may be beneficial for customers.
The popularity of Wi-Fi service - particularly on mobile phones - has grown tremendously. In the first quarter, AT&T handled 53.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, which is nearly five times higher than the same quarter last year.
Many of the most popular AT&T smartphones support auto-authentication at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, making it automatic and convenient for customers to connect. In the first quarter of 2010, the majority of AT&T Wi-Fi connections (69 percent) were made from smartphones and integrated devices, up from 35 percent a year ago in the first quarter of 2009.
AT&T's Wi-Fi network complements its wired broadband and wireless 3G networks, offering Wi-Fi connectivity in more than 20,000 U.S. locations - including retail stores, restaurants and coffee shops from coast-to-coast. A full list of AT&T Wi-Fi locations is available at www.attwifi.com.
Largest Wi-Fi network claim based on non-municipal company and owned and operated hotspots. An 802.11 b/g enabled device required.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
@John H
So, Mr. Smartypants, how do you explain my old iPhone 2g going to websites while still on a call back in 07? Magic?
A ploy to distract the tourists whilst pickpockets ply their craft.
I was in NYC on holiday about a month ago.
There's already some free wifi in times square -- just not provided by AT&T. So what are AT&T trying to "announce". Sounds like a "me-too"
Perhaps there's something specific (as the article suggests) to AT&T connected iphones -- if providing this free wifi offloads data from the GSM/UMTS network then that in itself could be a good thing -- but it's more a network optimization in AT&Ts favour rather than anything else (little different to adding more cell towers?)
@planetf1 They may provide a faster download speed than what is available.
@planetf1
Perhaps this has something to do with how difficult it is to establish new cell sites?? There are many laws and prohibitions on places cell sites can be built. This was prolly a no brainer once it was conceived.
Additional thought.
Perhaps it should be mandatory in such areas
* For the phone to emit a signal when approaching a road junction
* for all street furniture to be padded to avoid texter hitting themselves in face
;-)
This image is hilarious. Well done.
Hmm I live in NY, I work by Time Square, Can I get in on this for lunch?
That does "upward-facing" even mean? I couldn't find it on Dictionary.com, and the closest thing I could find is a yoga position.
@Sofabutt Err "What does"...
@Sofabutt I think it's in reference to the fact that everyone is looking up at buildings and signs and not walking fast.
What is this, I don't even...
I don't understand why this is a problem - did I miss the /sarcasm tag?
@World4GClear
This reminds me of an old pepsi product. Pretty sure it was clear.
Fail
If only...Im tired of knocking over tourist who walk while looking everywhere but forward. Then stop suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk. I don't mean to sound like some elitist, but if you're going to do that, please step aside. I feel bad knocking an innocent tourist over, because getting a picture of a pigeon eating crumbs is more important than watching where you're headed. :(
@World4GClear
Yeah, um
Fail.
@World4GClear EPIC n00b FAIL
So how does my iPhone auto-magically join these Wifi hotspots? Did Apple/AT&T permanently add a trusted Wifi hotspot to my list or something? Has anyone tried this and taken a look at the SSID being joined?
Think I'm going to move to the the north central part of Times Square, near 7th Avenue between 45th and 47th Street.
SlappySquirrel is tired of douchy New Yorkers bragging about how busy and fast-paced they are.
@SlappySquirrel
Times Square is a wreck almost always.. it's just the way it is. I could see the draw of it if you're a tourist.. If you live here it's just annoying, but tolerable when you have to be there..
We're not douchy, just jaded for lack of a better word. The per capita of people gawking 5 wide on the sidewalk is much amplified there.
Dear Engadget,
If you don't like tourists, move to a boring city or New Jersey. Otherwise, STFU!
@World4GClear Clearly.
How exactly doea at&t make iPhones auto switch from 3g to wifi when in range?
@World4GClear
I vote for a ban for spam.
I never wander into Times Square proper unless I have a great reason to.. Busy New Yorkers know to just stay away from it unless you can't help it...
How dare we admire your city?
@ptimespub
Go for it, just don't stop in the middle of the friggin sidewalk. Hell, I'm not even a New Yorker and I know how annoying this is.
And by the way, people are busy everywhere (though like you, we make time to post to the occasional blog). Gee whiz, we even have cars and computers in other places.
I don't see how several thousand tourists can be blamed for AT&T's pathetic
coverage in a city of millions.
Whoa whoa, when did this turn into an anti-New York thread?
Honestly, it would be nice if tourists minded the flow of pedestrian traffic. Times Square is one of the most congested parts of town, so unless you've had to get through there in a hurry, you'll not understand the simmering level of angst NYers have toward tourists. I suspect most of those slamming NYers probably haven't been here before. You can see the congestion very plainly with your eyes.
We're not anti-tourism, but a lot of us work in the area (and yes, for better or worse, our lives are fast paced) and simply need to be places we have to be at. But now we're douches because we have to be places fast? Look, if no one cared what time I got in at work, I'd gladly saunter around TS with you.
@theletterj
Very well stated. Tourists just need to learn the very common sense basics of navigating Manhattan. No standing on the left of an escalator or stairs (stand right, walk left, it's that simple). No standing atop a subway entrance yapping on your phone. Get the frack out of the way. No walking 3-across, hand in hand, thereby blocking 90% of the sidewalk.
What NYC really needs is "tourist - bridge/tunnel traffic free" days.
@theletterj I definitely understand that. Living in dc and frisco I know how it feels but I don't bitch and complain about advancement in tech making it worse. I go to ny a lot and have to maneuver throughtimes square. Yes tourists need to learn etiquette but it doesn't help to complain. Just go around. Bitching about people coming to your city only makes you look like a douche.
I don't mind the half naked Brazilian females though. Seriously how do these people dress so skimpily in their countries, even the lil ones??? Melons in my face all day long......and trying not to run into street signs from staring, not to mention an almost perpetual woody...
THATS like 2 blocks from my office... maybe if there is a little spillage of signal up to 50th ill be able to get some wifi... my problem is still not being able to make phone calls though, not browse the internet
As if NYC tourists weren't annoying enough! Somehow I still don't think this will solve AT&T's crappy coverage problem in NYC...
Don't bite the hand Engadget. I'm pretty sure that without those annoying tourists you'd be up shit creek without a paddle. Oh wait, you already are up shit creek without a paddle. Your state is in financial ruin. The only stupid thing about the tourists in NYC is their choice to go to NYC.
To all the pedestrian NYCers complaining about having to navigate around tourists:
Try driving on Boston streets with Boston drivers and Boston pedestrians/tourists.
@whiskers
Boston drivers are crazy, but in my visits to Boston I have never once seen 50-75% of the drivers suddenly stop, get out of their cars in the middle of the road to take photos etc.
Many commenters here don't understand the "frustration" NYers have with tourists blocking our daily navigation, but just imagine in your own town if at least half of the car drivers just suddenly stopped for no reason, parked IN a parking lot entrance (thereby blocking the entire parking lot), stopped 4-across on a highway to roll down their windows and talk to each other, etc. Same thing. Only difference is, here it is tourist pedestrians, not car drivers.
If you pulled this sort of crap on a Texas roadway you'd be shot - yet they get all pissy when you say "WALK LEFT OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!" to them on a subway escalator.
NYkers are no more busy than residents of any other major city in the world. It's just that they have that "always on the run" mentality.
It looks so funny, everyone's running like headless chickens.
Back on topic, more free wi-fi is good.
What is with everyone calling Engadget elitist? Did I stumble into a teaparty rally or something? The reality is the only other western city I know if that is as full of people as Manhattan is Paris, and having been to both I can say that when you're trying to get to your job so you don't get fired and you come across a family of five holding hands and monopolizing the whole damn sidewalk, it's pretty frustrating. And I wanna know more about the AT&T Wifi thing, how are they going to cause phones to automatically switch over?
No real New Yorker ever sees Times Square above ground. That said, I hope AT& doesn't make 3G and wifi work flawlessly on every subway platform on 42nd St. Now THAT would be annoying and bloody dangerous.