Verizon Wireless will begin offering Wi-Fi access through a partnership with Wayport, which operates hotspots and wired Internet access points at more than 650 locations across the U.S. The Wi-Fi service will be billed directly to a customer’s existing Verizon Wireless bill — eliminating the need for business customers to use their corporate credit card and later expense the charge.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/wifihttp://www.wayport.net
- In July 2003, Sprint announced a Wi-Fi partnership with Wayport. Specifically, Sprint will begin providing Wi-Fi access this summer through approximately 800 hotspots in key locations across the U.S. The hotspots will be either built and managed by Sprint or made available through roaming agreements with Wayport. Sprint is planning to have over 2,100 Wi-Fi locations by the end of the year. Airpath Wireless will provide hosted services to Sprint including credit card authentication services, end user management and integrated customer care. Initially, customers will be able to subscribe to PCS Wi-Fi Access using their credit cards. In late 2003, Sprint expects to integrate usage charges into the customers’ monthly PCS Service Plan statement.
Also last month, Wayport began offering Wi-Fi access at approximately 75 McDonalds locations in the San Francisco Bay area, and announced plans to launch a pilot Wi-Fi networks in Chicago and across Canada.
Also this month, MCI announced a roaming partnership with Wayport that gives its customers access to corporate networks from Wayport Wi-Fi sites.
In May, Wayport signed an agreement with CNN to offer Wi-Fi service in the 38 airports across the U.S. with access to CNN Airport Network.In January, AT&T Wireless signed a strategic Wi-Fi roaming agreement with Wayport, giving its subscribers access to Wayport hotspots.
Wayport’s other roaming partners include Boingo, iPass and GRIC.
