AT&T has recently acquired Wi-Fi provider Wayport, adding thousands of hotspots to their network.  AT&T seems to be bumping up the amount of hotspots that they now have to offer with the opening of free Wi-Fi access to iPhone users. The purchase price for Wayport was $275 million.

Now AT&T has around 20,000 wireless access points in the US and 80,000 around the world including roaming locations run by partner networks. Some of original AT&T Wi-Fi locations include Starbucks, Barnes  and Noble bookstores and many major airports.

Wayport has major hotspots at McDonalds, Four Seasons hotels, HealthSouth, and Sun Healthcare locations. AT&T had previously been contracting with Wayport, but says that the acquisition will expand its capabilities by allowing the entire network to be managed by one company.

[Via AppleInsider]