News
Issue #2002 - 45 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 27, 2002)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Boingo Wireless™ Launches Pocket Boingo Wi-Fi Software

SANTA MONICA, Calif. –November 14, 2002 - Boingo Wireless today introduced Pocket Boingo™ Software - the first full-featured Wi-Fi application for Pocket PC 2002. The free application is now available for download from Boingo's web site, www.boingo.com, or from the new PDA-tuned web site, pda.boingo.com. 

Pocket Boingo gives road warriors simple point-and-click access to high-speed Wi-Fi networks in more than 800 Boingo™ hot spot locations, as well as Wi-Fi signal sniffing and network profile management for personal networks at home or the office. 

"Road warriors can now forgo the cumbersome weight of a laptop and still stay connected at broadband speeds," said Dave Hagan, president of Boingo Wireless. "This takes the PDA to a whole different level - it really simplifies a Pocket PC's transition to being a networked device." 

Boingo, which operates Wi-Fi network for business travelers  and provides connectivity in hot spots located in hotels and airports, plus hundreds of cafes and other public locations.

Pocket Boingo Features 
Pocket Boingo enjoys features similar to the Boingo Software for Windows. Wi-Fi signal sniffing shows users the available networks wherever they are. Profile management helps users get connected more easily by creating configuration settings for known networks and prioritizing them to speed connections. And integrated Boingo Wireless™ service functionality gives the user point-and-click access to hundreds of Boingo hot spot locations. Users can also export network profiles from the Windows version of Boingo and import them into Pocket Boingo. 

Pocket Boingo Compatibility 
Pocket Boingo is compatible with PDAs using ARM processors and Wi-Fi cards that have NDIS 5.1 compliant drivers (this is what enables the sniffing and connection management). Initial support is for iPAQ 3600, 3700, 3800, and 3900 series devices using Proxim ORiNOCO, Compaq WL110 or HP hn220w PC Cards running version 7.62 of the device drivers (requires use of the PC Card Expansion Pack). Additional devices and cards will be compatible as the device drivers are updated by hardware OEMs. New cards are being added rapidly, so please visit www.boingo.com/compatibility.html for the latest compatibility information. 

PDA.BOINGO.COM 
In conjunction with the launch of Pocket Boingo software, Boingo also released a PDA-friendly version of the Boingo Web site. This currently comprises basic information and account functionality, but will eventually include full self-care account management. 

"Once you're cruising the Internet on a PDA, you realize how ugly most of the World Wide Web is at 240 by 320 pixels," said Hagan. "If we're going to accelerate these devices onto the network, we have to make sure the network is usable. We've cleaned up our corner of the world with http://pda.boingo.com."

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Pervasiveness of hot spot market moves one stop forward with support of PDA form factor devices. It is the availability of WiFi adapters for PDAs that makes this happen. Therefore credit should go to those engineering product managers at ORINCO , Proxim and HP who made it possible.  Boingo deserves credit too in moving aggressively to support these devices through their end of the configuration software and user interface. While laptops and notebooks will continue to be the workhorses of serious mobile professionals, PDA support in hot spots will allow e-mails to be synchronized more frequently.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.