AT&T Gets Wireless, Data Lift

AT&T posted a 22% rise in first-quarter profit, as strong wireless and data growth eased concerns about the weak U.S. economy's impact on the company. Earnings at the San Antonio, Texas, telecommunications company's wireless unit nearly doubled to $2.9 billion, as revenue increased 18%. The unit's growth was driven by strong subscriber gains and increased average monthly revenue per subscriber. Apple Inc.'s iPhone, for which AT&T has exclusive U.S. service rights, also has been a major factor. AT&T added 1.3 million net wireless subscribers, an increase of 8.7% over the year-earlier period, including 705,000 new post-paid subscribers, or customers who sign service contracts and pay monthly bills. The largest U.S. carrier by subscribers ended the quarter with 71.4 million total customers.
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Led by Wireless Unit, AT& T Reports a 21.5 Percent Gain (Associated Press)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042202921.html