Infonet Services Corporation, a leading provider of global communications services for multinationals, and broadband Wi-Fi services provider Boingo Wireless(TM), today announced a commercial partnership for delivering Infonet's secure remote access services over Boingo's Wi-Fi roaming system. Under the agreement, Infonet has made a minority investment in Boingo, and the two companies will collaborate and market end-user client software and wireless services.
The partnership is an expansion of Infonet's previously announced MobileXpress service family, and will allow Infonet's multinational customers secure access to Boingo's rapidly growing network of more than 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspot locations. The two companies will jointly develop end-user interface software scheduled for release in early 2004 that will also incorporate the Wi-Fi footprint and security capabilities acquired by Infonet through its relationship with TOGEWAnet, a provider of carrier class solutions for mobility management and roaming optimisation.
Boingo will also provide back office and billing capabilities that will expedite Infonet's ability to provide true broadband roaming over disparate hot spots around the world. These capabilities supplement Infonet's award-winning dial services to provide true mobility to multinational clients.
"Our agreement with Boingo underscores Infonet's commitment to next-generation mobility," said Jose Collazo, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Infonet. "Boingo's aggressive expansion, focus on the end-user experience, and development of wireless capabilities beyond Wi-Fi is a solid fit within our mobility strategy."
"We are excited to have Infonet as a global partner because we share a focus on secure and convenient broadband communications for the business traveller," said Sky Dayton, Boingo Wireless' Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Wi-Fi is growing rapidly on a global scale, and Infonet's wide distribution and enterprise customer focus aligns well with our expansion plans."
As previously announced, Infonet has also participated in Boingo's most recent investment round and is a minority shareholder in the company.
Enterprise clients will gain the benefits of unified billing, unified identity for their end-users and strong international coverage. Aligned with Infonet's security services portfolio, MobileXpress clients will benefit from strong authentication, SIM/SmartCard identification, as well as VPN and policy management support. Infonet's MobileXpress services will be packaged as fully managed end-to-end mobile solutions to provide maximum value to clients.
"The end-user experience is a central theme within our mobility strategy, as we are constantly addressing the need to provide our enterprise customers a simplified and intelligent method for their end-users to navigate around the wide range of available network options," said Marc Patterson, Vice President of Mobile Workplace Solutions for Infonet. "Wi-Fi is a fast-growing global phenomena, and enterprises continue to look to Infonet to make mobility manageable. In Boingo, Infonet has a partner who will help us deliver the next-generations of mobility to our clients."
