06/04/2008, 5:00pm, EDT
Wednesday, June 4thAT&T's Net Reach bundles 3G, wired Internet
AT&T on Wednesday announced the launch of its Net Reach bundle for laptop users on the go. The bundle's software finds and locks onto the strongest AT&T data network or Wi-Fi connection for a user's device wherever they are, be it EDGE, 3G, or Wi-Fi hotspots at home or elsewhere. The program works with a user's AT&T high-speed Internet and LaptopConnect services and includes access to over 17,000 hotspots in the US that use AT&T's Wi-FiSM service.
The first service to combine either mobile data network or wired Internet, Net Reach is a more elaborate version of AT&T's recent offer of free Wi-Fi via its LaptopConnect services. The bundle requires the latest update of AT&T's Communication Manager software, version 6.8, available to download free of charge in order to pick up the provider's network signals. AT&T's newest wireless laptop card, the USBConnect 881, comes preloaded with the update.
The Net Reach monthly plans are available now, starting at nearly $80, though they require AT&T's high-speed Internet and LaptopConnect services, as well as combining the wired and wireless services into one bill.
Filed under: computers
Other story tags: AT&T, 3G, Wi-Fi, Net Reach
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it would be great if
they did something crazy like: a) have this plan for the iPhone [so it auto-selects between wifi and 2/3g], b) permit tethering the iPhone to your laptop via BlueTooth so you have an always-on net connection. Heck, this would probably reduce their support calls AND costs, as they don't have to keep writing/updating drivers for MacOS X and Windows for a computer-only device.
Oh, sorry, I forgot that bits consumed by a computer are fundamentally different from bits consumed by a phone.