Cingular launches UMTS/HSDPA in hometown

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Cingular launches UMTS/HSDPA in hometown
By Kelly Hill
Jun 14, 2006
ATLANTA—Cingular Wireless L.L.C. launched UMTS/HSDPA services for businesses and consumers in its home town of Atlanta. The high-speed wireless data and voice service is available on two handsets, the LG Electronics Co. Ltd. CU320 and the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. SGH-ZX10; Cingular says it plans to add several other handsets in the coming months. A $20 unlimited data package is required for Cingular’s Video service, which includes local weather forecasts and a range of channels from ABC TV to CNN, the Disney Channel and Nascar.com To Go. Premium channels, such as HBO Mobile, have an additional subscription charge.

Cingular’s BroadbandConnect service for businesses allows customers to link up to the high-speed network via a PC card or an integrated modem within two models of Dell Latitude laptops. The service also requires a contract and a data plan, which can include international roaming.
The launch of the Atlanta metro area brings Cingular up to 18 major markets with UMTS/HSDPA availability. The other markets are Austin, Houston and Dallas, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Gary, Ind.; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.; and Washington, D.C.
Cingular officials have said that the company plans to extend the reach of its UMTS/HSDPA into all of the nation’s top 100 markets by the end of this year.