(Amtrak and AT&T Wireless issued the following news release on June 16.)
REDMOND, Wash. and WASHINGTON — Starting today, commuters will be able to stay connected to the Internet and office email at train stations along the Northeast Corridor. Following an agreement announced earlier this year, Amtrak and AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE – News) today began offering high-speed wireless internet (Wi-Fi) service in six of the railroad’s busiest train stations in the region. The stations are:
— Boston Route 128 Station
— Providence
— New York Penn Station
— Philadelphia 30th Street Station
— Wilmington
— Baltimore Penn Station
With more than one million weekday passengers, commuters and visitors to these stations, this new Wi-Fi service represents one of the largest single communications upgrades to the public rail system in the region.
“Amtrak is pleased to offer passengers another way to stay connected to their business and personal lives as they travel,” said Sally Bellet, vice president of real estate development for Amtrak. “Whether it’s e-mail, a report for work or balancing a bank account, people in our train stations can make more use of their time by using Wi-Fi services provided by AT&T Wireless.”
“Today’s business professionals are always looking for ways to stay connected while mobile,” said Abhi Ingle, vice president of enterprise data solutions for AT&T Wireless. “Our new in-building Wi-Fi service at these Amtrak stations, coupled with our wide-area EDGE service, gives commuters the ability to access the information they need while away from their homes or offices.”
Anyone with a working Wi-Fi-enabled laptop or PDA can access the system. Existing AT&T Wireless Wi-Fi customers will simply enter their user credentials to go online. Users can also have their Wi-Fi charges appear on their wireless phone bills if they are existing AT&T Wireless customers. For just $9.99, non-AT&T Wireless customers can connect to Wi-Fi service as often as they would like, from a single location, within a 24-hour period using a credit card. Users interested in becoming an AT&T Wireless Wi-Fi customer in order to have access to various Wi-Fi pricing plans can learn more at www.attwireless.com/wifi. To make connections easier and faster, customers can also download a free copy of the AT&T Wireless Wi-Fi Connector software, which uses advanced optimization features, at www.attws.com/wifi.
About Amtrak
Amtrak serves more than 500 communities in 46 states across a 22,000-mile route system. For further information, including fares and downloadable timetables, passengers are encouraged to visit www.amtrak.com.
About AT&T Wireless
AT&T Wireless is the second-largest wireless carrier, based on revenues, in the United States. With 21.692 million subscribers as of March 31, 2004, and revenues of more than $16.8 billion over the past four quarters, AT&T Wireless delivers advanced high-quality mobile wireless communications services, voice and data, to businesses and consumers, in the U.S. and internationally.