AT&T claims twice as many smartphone users as rivals

Citing independent market research, AT&T announced its customer base now boasts twice as many smartphone users as any other U.S. mobile operator, reporting that close to 32 percent of its postpaid subscribers now use an integrated device. According to AT&T, more new and existing customers activated integrated devices in Q1 than the carrier added in new postpaid subscribers. AT&T credits the smartphone user growth to its 3G network and nearly 20,000 U.S. WiFi hotspots--the press release also highlights the carrier's lineup of devices, specifically the BlackBerry Bold and Nokia E71x, although Apple's iPhone is oddly absent from the roll call. (Oh, that's right--AT&T doesn't consider the iPhone a phone.)

AT&T notes it currently provides smartphones across five different open operating systems, adding its portfolio includes nine WiFi-capable devices and five touchscreen phones as well as a host of full-qwerty quick messaging phones. AT&T adds it will soon launch a new advertising campaign that spotlights its smartphone leadership and illustrates how consumers are exploiting devices to stay productive.

For more on AT&T's smartphone user growth:
- read this release

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