SBC plans to deploy more than 20,000 Wi-Fi wireless LAN hot spots in 6,000 venues over the next three years and create an integrated Wi-Fi and 3G service. The new Wi-Fi service will be marketed as "FreedomLink" throughout the SBC 13-state region. Where possible, SBC intends to use its public telephone infrastructure to establish access points and to use SBC DSL or T1 service as the backhaul. About 1,000 Wi-Fi hot spots are expected to be online in several hundred venues by year-end, more than 9,000 hot spots in 2,000 venues by the end of 2004 and more than 20,000 hot spots in 6,000
venues by the end of 2006.
Initially, the FreedomLink service will be offered to customers on a transactional basis with a one-time fee for daily sessions. SBC intends to offer deeply discounted pricing for customers who combine FreedomLink with other SBC services and packages, including SBC Yahoo! DSL and SBC Total Connections, the company's flagship bundle, which includes local, wireless, DSL and long distance (where available) service. SBC also intends to leverage its ownership interest in Cingular Wireless to build a seamless Wi-Fi + 3G service by late 2004 or early 2005. Cingular is currently deploying Enhanced Datarate for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology.
SBC has also entered into a roaming agreement with Wayport, giving it access to 650 locations across the U.S. Wayport will also provide services that include Wayport's access control and customized SBC splash pages. To give subscribers access to additional hot spots, SBC companies will also pursue roaming agreements with other Wi-Fi service providers.
http://www.sbc.com
http://www.ipass.com
- Wayport has now signed deals with SBC, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, McDonalds, MCI, AT&T Wireless, Boingo, iPass and GRIC.
