OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the lines between the physical and digital retail worlds blur and consumers turn to their mobile devices and apps to enhance their mobile lifestyle, AT&T* is transforming its retail stores in Oklahoma to enhance the shopping experience for its customers with a new store set to open today at 5325 N. May Avenue in Oklahoma City. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/DA23287LOGO)

Many of the new store design and merchandising elements were first seen in AT&T's award-winning flagship brand store on the famed Michigan Avenue and are now scaling across its other company-owned retail stores.

The new store concept was a result of more than two years of exploration and research all centered around one design goal --to create a more interactive and inviting store environment, a shopping experience like no other.  

Customers in Oklahoma City will be among the first to experience the new store concept that is reinventing how the retail business is done. This store is the latest example of the investment already made in Oklahoma. In the first half of 2013, AT&T invested more than $120 million in its wireless and wired networks in Oklahoma.  The investments included deployment of new macro cell sites, small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems across the state as a part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP, a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks.  The company also expanded and enhanced its 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast mobile Internet speeds, and deployed new Wi-Fi hot spots. 

This new location will serve the growing number of consumers relying on their wireless devices to manage their busy lives.

"Customers visiting our new Oklahoma City store will discover a design that is built around their experiences and delivers an interactive shopping experience that mirrors their mobile lifestyle," said David Underwood, Director of Sales for AT&T Oklahoma.  "Our goal is to become America's premier retailer by providing an exceptional experience in every interaction, and we've been working hard to exceed customer expectations by taking our stores and network to a new level here in Oklahoma."

Flexible DesignEverything about the store is designed for ultimate flexibility.  It brings to life AT&T's mission, brand vision, and personality while encouraging self-discovery and satisfying curiosity.

The store layout will highlight AT&T's products and services, devices and accessories across three unique "zones" -the Connected Experience Zone, the Community Zone, and the Explore Zone.

The new Connected Experience Zone features "lifestyle vignettes" that offer customers a glimpse of how solutions can be used in customers' everyday lives. These lifestyle pavilions will highlight categories such as music, home security and entertainment and more.

Next is the Community Zone, featuring "community tables" that encourage customers to shop and play in an open and interactive space.  This space merchandises apps, accessories and devices to show customers how they can work together.

Finally, customers can check out the Explore Zone with "explore walls" that highlight AT&T's diverse device line-up and accessories complemented by digital monitors with product information.

Enhanced service experienceWhat you won't see in these new stores is almost as important as what you will see. Customers will no longer see the traditional retail "cash-register" counters. Instead, they'll find round cafe-style "learning tables" that allow for side-by-side interactions with the AT&T retail consultant to ask questions or learn about a product or service. All retail consultants are equipped with a tablet supported by a new mobile point-of-sale system that gives ultimate flexibility for helping customers anywhere in the store.

Customers also won't see the printed product brochures common in many stores. With digital signage, e-brochures and interactive video monitors, they can have the information literally at their finger tips while giving AT&T the flexibility of updating messaging faster and more efficiently.

From the initial purchase to ongoing service interactions, AT&T is focused on providing an unparalleled customer experience.  AT&T was recently recognized with two significant achievements, outperforming competitors for customer service and wireless purchase experience.  J.D. Power awarded AT&T the "Highest Ranked Customer Service Performance Among Full-Service Wireless Providers" and "Highest Satisfaction with the Purchase Experience among Full Service Wireless Providers" in their 2013, Volume 2 studies. 

Store informationThe new Oklahoma City store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. AT&T has more than 30 retail locations in Oklahoma. To find the nearest AT&T store or Device Support Center near you, visit www.att.com/find-a-store or www.att.com/dsc.  Don't forget you can also make an appointment before visiting your local AT&T store -https://www.att.com/storeappointment/.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

AT&T received the highest numerical score among full service wireless providers in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 Wireless Customer Care Full Service and Full Service Wireless Purchase Experience Studies(SM) – Vol. 2. Study based on 7,373 (Customer Care) and 8,693 (Purchase Experience) consumer responses measuring 4 full service wireless providers and measures opinions of consumers who purchased a wireless product or service within last 6 months.  Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed January-June 2013.  Your experiences may vary.  Visit jdpower.com

About AT&TAT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.