AT&T Inc. on Thursday opened a 3,900-square-foot AT&T store in Norman’s University Park shopping center on 24th Avenue NW north of Robinson Street.

Local business and community leaders along with AT&T officials marked the opening with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event at the new facility, which is located at 1444 24th Ave. NW.

Larry Evans, vice president and general manager for AT&T’s wireless group in Oklahoma, and Jan Moran, AT&T area manager, presented more than $1,500 in toys to the United Way of Norman’s They Need a Little Christmas program to reaffirm AT&T’s commitment to the Norman community.

“AT&T has long supported the United Way in this area, and we are thrilled the company is making this generous donation of toys to ensure that more children in our community will receive a gift for Christmas,” said Kristin Collins, president of United Way of Norman. “These toys will go to a number of local social service agencies that will then distribute them to the families of children who need them the most at this special time of year.”

The Norman Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors group celebrated the new store’s opening with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event.

“We’re excited that AT&T has chosen Norman to debut a new generation of retail store that goes beyond just selling wireless phones,” said Anna-Mary Suggs, executive director, Norman Chamber of Commerce. “It not only means local residents now have access to the latest communications services, it means new jobs for our community and another strong member of the local chamber.”

State Rep. Scott Martin said the new store is another example of Norman’s growth and diversified economy. “This new store represents a significant investment in our city and a belief by AT&T that Norman is a major economic center in our state,” Martin said.

The new facility gives AT&T three retail stores in the Norman area. In October, AT&T announced the purchase of two Norman Cellular stores at 2351 W. Main St. and 152 S.E. 12th.

The new AT&T store is larger than the typical AT&T retail store, and it features several new retail concepts — transitioning from a wireless-centric space to a high-energy retail format that showcases AT&T’s complete provider profile by housing all of AT&T’s products and services under one roof.

“The AT&T store in Norman completely encompasses what AT&T is all about,” Evans said. “All of the communications and entertainment products consumers want are in one place.

Evans also announced that AT&T has launched its third generation wireless broadband service in the Oklahoma City metro area, including Norman. Among its many benefits, the 3G network provides the simultaneous delivery of voice and data — capability not offered by all wireless providers.

The 3G network enables a service called Video Share, which lets users share live video over wireless phones while carrying on a voice call. Another 3G service is called AT&T LaptopConnect, which gives mobile customers DSL-like speeds for their laptops. The service requires a special laptop card or a laptop with built-in 3G capability.

The new AT&T store will feature a wide variety of wireless products and services, including the Apple iPhone. The store will feature numerous PDAs, smartphones and GPS and Bluetooth accessories. Customers can learn how to use e-mail and Microsoft applications on these devices, and they can get the hang of multimedia messaging and photo- and video-sharing capabilities.

Customers also will be able to preview and buy other AT&T services, such as AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet service and AT&T HomezoneSM service, a new service that combines Internet service with satellite television.

“We have seen tremendous growth because customers see the value that AT&T offers, things such as rollover minutes, the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community in the United States, a 30-day no-questions-asked policy, on roaming or long distance nationwide and customer-friendly disclosure documents, to name a few,” Evans said.

Customers will be able to test-drive all of AT&T’s music offerings from Napster, iTunes, eMusic, Music ID, Pandora and XM Satellite Radio on wireless phones, Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth external speakers. Customers also can transfer songs via a laptop or mobile phone. For the gamers, AT&T experts will show customers how to download games to wireless phones and laptops.

“This is a whole new experience for customers, who will be able to try out all of AT&T’s full suite of services within the store,” said Evans. “This is just another way we are demonstrating our commitment to providing customers with innovative integrated services, streamlined customer care and greater convenience when purchasing communications and entertainment products.”
 

Copyright  1999-2006 cnhi, inc.