Dallas – AT&T plans Nov. 22 availability
of its first wireless USB modem to incorporate the 7.2Mbps version of its HSPA cellular-data
technology.
The Sierra
Wireless-made USBConnect Lightning will be available for $99 in AT&T
stores, indirect retailers, ATT’s business channels and the carrier’s Web site. The price is after a $100
mail-in rebate with a two-year contract for a DataConnect plan of at least $35
a month. The rebate takes the form of an AT&T promotion card. Plan options
include a 200MB plan at a newly reduced price of $35/month or a 5GB plan at
$60/month.
The USB modem
features a lighted design with a swivel hinge for use in horizontal- or
vertical-oriented USB ports.
AT&T plans
to offer commercial HSPA 7.2 service by the end of the year in Charlotte,
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. The company plans to deploy
HSPA 7.2 in 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets by the end of 2010 and to expand
to about 90 percent of AT&T’s existing 3G footprint by the end of 2011.
The modem comes
preloaded with AT&T Communication Manager (ACM) 7.0 software for use in
laptops. The software, which is Windows 7-compatible, automatically connects
users to any of AT&T’s 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots at no extra cost on eligible
rate plans.
