AT&T Inc., the nation's No. 1 wireless carrier, has finalized the acquisition of Wayport Inc. to provide better mobile Internet coverage for its customers using the iPhone, BlackBerry or other smartphones.

The Wayport resources advance AT&T's strategy for deploying consumer Wi-Fi services that provide broadband access across various devices, personalized for the user and location and business Wi-Fi applications designed to reduce operating costs and increase productivity.

"This acquisition will expand our nationwide Wi-Fi footprint," said Jenny Bridges, spokeswoman for AT&T, Dallas, TX.

"A combined company will drive new creative and customized Wi-Fi solutions for enterprise customers and make Internet access -- building on AT&T's 3G and Wi-Fi platform -- near ubiquitous for consumers," she said.

The Wayport deal adds local Wi-Fi network management and infrastructure experience to AT&T's communications capabilities.

The deal brings the carrier's number of domestic hotspots to nearly 20,000 -- the most of any U.S. provider, according to AT&T.

Globally, AT&T has nearly 80,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including roaming locations.

Further advancing its Wi-Fi strategy, AT&T is nearing completion of the transition of thousands of Starbucks company-owned stores in the United States to AT&T Wi-Fi service, improving AT&T's ability to optimize broadband access by device and customer location.

Specifically, customers at nearly 7,000 company-operated Starbucks locations can now access a tailored, online experience -- including local Starbucks content -- while logging on to the Internet from their Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone, laptop computer or other device.

"We provide free access at these locations to millions of our broadband and wireless customers, giving them more connectivity at a greater value," Ms. Bridges said.

AT&T sees Wi-Fi as a strategic opportunity to bring more connectivity to more consumers.

The carrier plans to work closely with its enterprise customers to help them enhance and personalize their customer communications and improve the efficiency of their operations.

According to Yankee Group, the number of Wi-Fi-enabled handsets will grow by at least 175 percent over the next three years.

Other reports have projected that more than 1 billion Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including wireless handsets, will be shipped in 2012.

AT&T is the provider of several Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including Apple's iPhone 3G and Research In Motion's BlackBerry Bold.

AT&T continues to see a dramatic spike in Wi-Fi use.

Combining both AT&T and Wayport customer use, Wi-Fi connections in November alone surpassed 2.5 million.

AT&T drives Wi-Fi use by enabling free Wi-Fi access to nearly 15 million AT&T wired broadband customers and millions more wireless customers.

For businesses, the AT&T Wi-Fi service can enable such business tools as inventory management to provide real-time data on in-store stock volumes, product sales and forecasts.

These applications can be useful for the growing number of remote workers wanting access to their company's enterprises via their handset.

AT&T also managed the upgrade of Starbucks' back-end store network, in addition to its customer-facing Wi-Fi connections.

The carrier provided Starbucks with the infrastructure to deliver new consumer experiences and business services, while at the same time reducing the overall costs of their store network.

"This brings complete management of the increasingly important Wi-Fi network -- private and public -- in-house, and allows AT&T to also reduce costs -- and reduce costs for its business customers -- while increasing the attractiveness of the company's broadband and wireless offerings," Ms. Bridges said.