SANTA MONICA, Calif. – July 12, 2004 – Boingo Wireless and EarthLink, Inc. today announced an expanded Platform Services agreement that will result in a new, completely integrated Wi-Fi feature in future versions of EarthLink’s popular TotalAccess® Internet software. Under the multiyear agreement, EarthLink has also recommitted to the Boingo’ Roaming System for its high-speed Wi-Fi service.
EarthLink has licensed the Boingo software development kit (SDK) for Windows and Mac OS X and will use it to build Wi-Fi access and connection management capabilities into TotalAccess, allowing subscribers to more easily use Wi-Fi, at home, at the office, and at thousands of Wi-Fi hot spots around the world.
The announcement builds on a Boingo Platform Services agreement between the companies that was first announced in 2002 and has resulted in a standalone EarthLink Wi-Fi service that was not integrated with the core EarthLink service. This agreement enables EarthLink to make Wi-Fi an integral part of its TotalAccess offering to over 5 million customers.
“What’s exciting about this agreement is that EarthLink brings a lot of Wi-Fi market experience and has realized that closer integration of Wi-Fi into its core service is what its customers want,” said Dave Hagan, Boingo president and COO.
“Our customers are increasingly mobile and to meet their needs we plan to be very aggressive in offering wireless services, and Wi-Fi is an important element of this,” said Brent Cobb, vice president of EarthLink Wireless. “Working with Boingo gives us all of the pieces – the software and the network- so that Wi-Fi becomes a natural component of the EarthLink experience.”
EarthLink TotalAccess is comprehensive Internet software that allows customers to connect to the Internet and makes surfing and email faster, safer, and easier to use. TotalAccess features an exclusive suite of tools, including spamBlocker, which blocks virtually 100 percent of junk email messages before they can reach a user’s account; Pop-Up BlockerSM, which helps block annoying pop-up ads; and Spyware BlockerSM, which keeps the online experience secure and private.
Boingo software is an award-winning Wi-Fi client that gives end users Wi-Fi signal sniffing capabilities along with secure network log-in and sophisticated connection management. With this connection management capability, users are able to build a profile for their most frequently used networks to make accessing these networks point-and-click simple. The software is used to access the Boingo network of thousands of hot spots worldwide, and can also be used to manage Wi-Fi access to home, work and free Wi-Fi networks.
Through its Platform Services program, Boingo provides services providers with a complete, private-label Wi-Fi platform, including a network of more than 9,000 Wi-Fi hot spots under contract, award-winning client software, and a suite of back-end roaming, billing, clearinghouse and mediation services.
About Boingo Wireless
Boingo Wireless, Inc. is an ultra-high-speed wireless Internet service available in thousands of locations such as hotels, airports, cafes, and other public places, in dozens of countries throughout the world. Both directly and through major carrier and ISP partners, Boingo provides business travelers with a wireless broadband Internet connection to improve productivity while on the road. Through its Wi-Fi software and Roaming System, Boingo makes finding and connecting to Wi-Fi networks point-and-click simple and secure. More information about Boingo is available at http://www.boingo.com.
About Earthlink
“EarthLink revolves around you’.” Celebrating ten years as a leading national Internet service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM, EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it’s dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink’s Web site at www.earthlink.net.