AT&T Wireless Speeds Up Wireless Data Service

Pushing forward in the high speed cellular wireless data race in the US is AT&T Wireless, who announced today that they've launched their EDGE high speed data service. The announcement is a little misleading in claiming that they offer the "fastest" access, since Verizon Wireless has launched their faster EV-DO data service - but only in two locations. The AT&T Wireless launch is nationwide, which is nice to see. Still, since there were plenty of rumors going around that the various GSM/GPRS-based US carriers were being slow about launching EDGE it's good to see AT&T Wireless forging ahead. They're pitching the service as having "average" data rates of 100 to 130 kilobits per second, and it will be interesting to hear feedback from folks using the service to find out how fast they're actually finding the service. They're pricing it along the same lines as Verizon Wireless' wireless data rates: $80 for unlimited data. Clearly, the initial launch is much more focused on business travelers who can afford those rates. Addendum by Derek: We have already discussed some of the business pressures that got EDGE rolled out early in the US, plus Mike posted about an AT&T EDGE terminal launched in May. Last note: Cingular was the first to launch EDGE in the US, but not nationally.

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