American phone provider AT&T has announced that it will offer its users unlimited free access to its nationwide Wi-Fi network.

The move will allow customers broadband speed access at over 10,000 hotspots across the US, including cafes, shops, airports and hotels.

AT&T has said that it demonstrates the company's commitment to making broadband a more versatile product by allowing users to stay connected in a growing number of ways.

It also announced recently a new partnership with Yahoo! that will see powerful new search facilities offered to AT&T users on both home PCs and wireless devices.

A spokesperson for Yahoo! said that the alliance would raise the bar for internet service providers and ensure customers receive robust connectivity solutions as well as a powerful internet software platform.

AT&T also remarked that 2007 had been a banner year for the firm, which saw acquisitions of VoIP service company Interwise as well as an agreement that named the company as the primary telecommunications provider for IBM.