Technology companies are seeing an increase in the number of people connecting to the Internet via wireless or Wi-Fi connections across the United States. Consumers are showing great interest in purchasing smartphones and providers are responding by expanding their wireless coverage areas and the number of hotspots they provide to make mobile connectivity a reality.
AT&T recently announced plans to add more than 35 new wireless cell sites across Indiana this year. Many of these sites will feature third-generation (3G) connectivity so that consumers can have faster and more reliable connections for surfing the Internet and placing calls on their wireless devices.
“Consumers have a big appetite for fast and portable Internet connectivity,” said George S. Fleetwood, president AT&T Indiana. “Governor Daniels and the Indiana General Assembly have made Indiana an attractive place for providers to invest and we are pleased to be expanding our most advanced wireless capabilities across many areas of our great state.”
AT&T also recently announced dramatic growth in the number of Wi-Fi users and connections it provides. The company says that the usage surge has been driven by growth in its customer base, the proliferation of Wi-Fi enabled devices and the transition of Starbucks locations to AT&T’s Wi-Fi footprint.
The number and type of Wi-Fi enabled devices also continues to grow. In January, Sony introduced the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled digital camera with a built-in web browser. Some providers now offer wirelessly embedded mini laptops and interest in smartphones, including the iPhone, continues to grow.
J.D Power and Associates recently announced that Apple ranks highest among smartphone consumers. The organization also found that customer satisfaction is increasing with smartphones as well.
“As consumers continuously upgrade to mobile phones that allow a full mobile-Web experience, advanced multimedia programs and 3G data downloads, overall handset satisfaction should continue to rise, as these devices tend to make our lives more convenient and prove entertaining,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates.
