AT&T (NYSE: T) says it wants to make it easy for businesses to keep their customers connected with AT&T Wi-Fi--Small Site. Businesses with small locations can self-install the service to give their customers free public Wi-Fi from AT&T, while keeping their internal Wi-Fi traffic separate and secure.
AT&T says its Small Site product is well suited for professional offices, restaurants and retail stores because it lets a business extend a public Wi-Fi hotspot to all its customers at no cost to the business or the end user. In addition, it includes two network names: a public network and a private network only for employees' use; it also lets businesses create an additional branded Wi-Fi network for public use.
The Wi-Fi service already is gaining interest from local retailers like Oil & Vinegar, a gourmet retail franchise that sees it as a potential amenity to offer its customers at its stores in Dallas. "We believe that offering free Wi-Fi will encourage our customers to interact more with us on our social channels and we are excited to share new recipes and new ingredients while they browse through the store," said Cheryl Kobza, owner of two Oil & Vinegar franchises, in a release. For more, see this FierceTelecom article.