AT&T is launching a Wi-Fi “hot zone” in Chicago’s Wrigleyville as part of a pilot program that seeks to supplement the company’s beleaguered broadband network.
This will be the third Wi-Fi zone set up by the company, which is setting up the zones in area with the highest traffic and mobile data use. The first pilot was launched in New York City’s Times Square in May and was followed by a hot zone in downtown Charlotte, N.C.
AT&T has been seeking ways to curb high usage by data hogging iPhone users. Ralph de la Vega, chief executive of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets has said that 3 percent of iPhone users account for 40 percent of their traffic.
Until June, the company was charging all of its smartphone customers $30 a month for unlimited data usage but the unlimited data option has been eliminated for new subscribers. Customers had complained of poor coverage, particularly at high-traffic times and in populated areas.
The new Wi-Fi hotzone provides coverage along the streets and outdoor area of Wrigleyville, to the south, east and west sides of Wrigley Field.
AT&T said their Wi-Fi service has grown “tremendously” in popularity. In the second quarter of 2010, AT&T handled 68.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, compared to 15 million in the same quarter last year. There are more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots nationwide on the AT&T network.
It’s too bad they aren’t investing in improving overall coverage in Lakeview. I challenge AT&T to ride in a car (or bus, or walk on foot) on Diversey from the lakefront to Damen (or even Elston) and maintain a single call without dropping at least twice! Anytime of day.
ASD is right…Diversey and Ashland is a complete dead zone…no signal ever there…and also along the Brown line from Francisco to Damen is a complete dead zone too
Maybe you guys should return your phones then – or perhaps toggle 3G on and off to look for best covereage. I live on Diversey and Sheridan and have no problems at all when I’m around the area. the only dead zone I’ve found is around North Ave and Sheridan.
With Sprint 4G, you don’t need to find a hotspot. All of Chicago is a hotspot. And with a Sprint 3G/4G Overdrive or HTC Evo smartphone, you can connect up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to get 4G speeds, up to 10 times faster than 3G.
Shut it, Candace. at least make it less obvious that you work for Sprint.
I’ve had fine service on AT&T, for what its worth. The hotspots will help, since the major problem during cubs games is fans hogging bandwidth.
Yes ! i’m from Michigan and I sent to ohio State . But I live in Wrigleywille now . Now I can have even more reasons to be at the game but, not watch the game. The important thing is that i’m ther with my yellow wristband and a tattoo of my fraternity letters on my ankle
sweet bro! I can spend more time making my haoir look real messy
Makes sense. You can surf instead of watching the Cubs lose 18-1
“Time Square”. Nice work Trib
This is the reason I left ATT and went with Verizon
Who cares. I left ATT years ago for Verizon. The service is soooo much better.
because they build free wifi hotspots??
AT&T is a joke – Every single person I know who has AT&T/iPhone has an issue with service. I have a Sprint HTC Evo and do not have any service issues, and get faster Internet speeds (I’ve clocked 8 Mbps) than my RCN cable modem. iPhone is out, bye Steve!
NOW YOU KNOW WHY IT HAS BEEN OVER 100 YEARS WITHOUT A WORLD SERIES WIN!!!!! WHO CARES ABOUT THE PRODUCT ON THE FIELD!!!!!!!!!
Now ATT when are you going to fix the problem near US CELLULAR FIELD? Half the time, I can’t even recieve/make phone calls when the WHITE SOX are playing! It’s been like this for two years and you have done nothing!!!!!!!!!!
they’re a joke. i live just north of irving park and cannot use my phone in my home. also, calls drop on southport all the time. att is horrible.
This at&a t has tried to stop a hum on my line for 15 years and can’t but the can have wifi at that field I can’t even get a dsl line from them I have to Pay comcast for the internet