26/07/2010 By Jacqui Cheng ( Source: http://arstechnica.com )

AT&T targeting heavy 3G use with WiFi in Charlotte, Chicago

AT&T may not be able to expand its 3G network capacity at lightning speeds, but it can at least expand its availability of free WiFi hotspots in order to lighten the 3G data load. The company announced Monday that it was rolling out its WiFi "hotzones" to more cities after having launched them in New York City earlier this year, focusing on areas with the heaviest 3G traffic.

Charlotte, North Carolina will be the next city to pilot AT&T's hotzones. The WiFi coverage will extend along South Brevard Street near the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza to East Trade Street, as well as the Lynx light rail. Similar coverage will be coming to Chicago as well in the "coming weeks," said AT&T, though the company did not elaborate on which parts of the city would be included.

When AT&T first introduced the hotzones in NYC in May, the carrier said it was focusing on areas where there was consistently high 3G traffic and mobile data usage. That test has apparently worked well—after all, AT&T's data network is notoriously bad in NYC, so any reprieve would be welcome. Of course, AT&T's subscribers would like for the actual data network to get a boost everywhere, but for now, the hotzones will have to stand in while AT&T expands its infrastructure.