US : AT&T Inc. announced today that millions of people living in or visiting the Jersey shore will no longer need to rely on wired connections for broadband access to information, because AT&T is transforming the beaches and resort areas from Atlantic City to Cape May into a wireless superhighway.

Today AT&T begins offering third-generation (3G) mobile broadband wireless service in Atlantic City, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood, Ocean City and Cape May. This represents an expansion of the company's high speed data network already available in Camden, Trenton, Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

AT&T customers can now use the 3G mobile broadband network to rapidly access e-mail, browse the Internet or connect to business applications in a fraction of the time it used to take, making it convenient to watch news or weather video clips and download games and graphics.

"Our customers are always craving quick access to information," said Dan Lafond ( inset ), vice president and general manager for AT&T's wireless unit in greater Philadelphia. "AT&T's 3G mobile broadband service lets them watch streaming video of Phillies highlights on their wireless phone while waiting in line to grab a hot dog on the boardwalk, or they can work from the beach using a PC card to access the Internet. We're providing customers with an 'invisible wire' that extends their broadband experience beyond their office or home."

AT&T's 3G broadband network provides average download data speeds between 400 and 700 Kbps (kilobits per second) with bursts to more than 1MB (megabit). The company currently provides high speed services in more than 165 cities across the country. HSDPA/UMTS (High Speed Downlink Packet access/Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems) technology makes it possible for people to enjoy a wide variety of wireless content and gives AT&T the advantage of offering simultaneous voice and data services to customers based upon the Global Standard for Mobile communications -- GSM. For businesses and consumers, this means more feature-rich services and content, and for AT&T, a more economical method for carrying traffic and more efficient use of wireless spectrum.

PERSONAL MOBILITY -- FAST AND FURIOUS

Customers can catch up on all news and sports from CNN, ABC or ESPN or watch the latest episode of "The Sopranos" or "Entourage" by signing up for Cellular Video, an on-demand streaming video service with a large selection of popular mobile content that can be viewed on 3G broadband-capable AT&T phones.

"We've tailored our video services so that customers can quickly and easily personalize and access the information that's most important to them," added Lafond. "Imagine Mom on vacation checking out the weather video before deciding whether to take the kids to the beach or the movies, or the executive taking a three-day weekend and being able to check the latest action on Wall Street with headlines from CNBC -- all on their wireless phone from AT&T."

Cellular Video includes local weather forecasts in 100 cities across the country. The basic service includes more viewing options for families including ABC-TV, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CNN, Disney Channel, Disney Mobile Studios, ESPN, FOX Sports, FOX News, FOX-TV, FUEL, HBO Family, iFilm, Jayski Alerts, Music Choice, NASCAR.com To Go (premium), NCAA Championship Sports Content, NBC, Richard Childress Racing, SPEED, The Weather Channel and TV Guide Channel.

The video service requires a $19.99 MEdia Max package. Premium content, such as HBO Mobile or HBO Family is available with a subscription fee of $4.99 or $2.99 a month.

MOBILIZING BUSINESS AT HIGH SPEED

Using its 3G broadband services, AT&T's LaptopConnect gives users the ability to stay connected to e-mail, the Internet and business applications while on the go. LaptopConnect combines either an external LaptopConnect card or an integrated modem within a notebook computer with AT&T's Communication Manager to provide access to the 3G network. LaptopConnect also offers security features comparable to alternative wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and enables average data speeds between 400 and 700 Kbps on the downlink, with bursts to more than 1MB per second. This allows users to download a 1 megabyte file in about 15 seconds on average.

Customers can choose from AT&T's full portfolio of LaptopConnect cards, each costing $49.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate at AT&T-owned wireless retail stores (formerly Cingular) nationwide, at http://www.cingular.com or through AT&T's business-to-business sales organizations. Additionally, business customers traveling outside the United States can select one of two international data plans. AT&T DataConnect North America ($109.99 for 100MB) for travel within Canada and Mexico, and DataConnect Global ($139.99 for 100MB), an overseas plan -- both include unlimited data usage on AT&T's domestic data networks.

All AT&T LaptopConnect cards and integrated modems are interoperable between the company's nationwide EDGE network and its 3G network. Additionally, customers can use AT&T's tri-band 3G cards to access 3G, EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) in 125 countries worldwide.

THE TECHNOLOGY: HSDPA/UMTS

HSDPA is the high speed evolution of GSM/EDGE, which shares a common core network and therefore is backward compatible with EDGE/GPRS.

In areas where the 3G broadband network is not available, customers will automatically receive service on the company's EDGE network. The AT&T EDGE network is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways, providing average data speeds up to 135 Kbps. GSM, the world's most popular wireless technology, is used by international wireless carriers to serve more than 2 billion people worldwide. GSM enables AT&T customers to make and receive voice calls in 200 countries.