Telstra And IPass Extend Partnership With International Wireless Hotspot Roaming Agreement

Published 1st August 2006

Hundreds of business critical locations including Sydney and Melbourne urban hotzones join iPass Global Broadband Roaming network...

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. and SYDNEY, Australia – 1st August 2006
Telstra and iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) today announced a new international roaming agreement that provides iPass customers with immediate access to approximately 1,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across Australia.

For iPass customers, the agreement means they can now access more than 60,000 available hotspots in 160 countries. In Australia, Telstra Wireless Hotspot is the country’s leading provider of secure and reliable wireless broadband internet access ensuring iPass customers have the access they need while travelling ‘Down Under’.

The international roaming agreement builds on the exclusive, three-year Telstra Remote Working Solutions arrangement announced in November 2005 which integrates the iPass global access footprint and suite of security services with Telstra’s extensive range of domestic access technologies to offer a single secure Remote Working Solution.

Lynda O’Grady, Managing Director, Convergent Solutions & Sales, Telstra Enterprise and Government said Telstra Wireless Hotspot was developed to meet the needs of business professionals through a network of premium location partners covering much of the central business districts of Sydney and Melbourne, as well as selected areas in the capital cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Hobart.

“Wireless technologies can have a major impact on the business community by enabling employees to work more productively and with greater flexibility,” she said. “Telstra Wireless Hotspot offers customers reliable and quality wireless coverage in key points of presence so they can work efficiently when outside the office.”

In addition to Australia’s main business and financial hubs, network coverage extends to 22 Qantas airport lounges, including coverage in the international airports of Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as selected hotels, McDonald’s restaurants and Starbucks coffee houses around the country.

Telstra’s wireless hotspots went through the rigorous iPass Enterprise Ready certification process before they were integrated into the iPass Global Broadband Roaming Network. This ensures the hotspots meet quality and reliability standards as well as interoperability with common policy and security tools that business customers use.

Anurag Lal, Senior Vice President of Strategic Services and Business Development, iPass commented: “Our global corporate customers want help executing their mobility strategies, including the delivery of global high-performance access to their mobile workers. In response, over the last two years iPass has grown its network presence from 10,000 to over 60,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, spread evenly across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific Rim. As the leading Wi-Fi network in Australia, Telstra Wireless Hotspot significantly strengthens iPass’ presence in the country, helping mobile workers conduct business conveniently without undue support or management burdens”.