WeRoam enters into roaming agreement with Bitbuzz in Ireland



Agreement enables Ireland's largest wireless Internet service provider to introduce SIM authentication


Berne / Dublin, -/June 24, 2004 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- The open WeRoam roaming platform with around 10.000 Wi-Fi hotspot locations worldwide and Bitbuzz, a leading independent wireless Internet service provider in Ireland, have agreed to work together closely on introducing the pioneering SIM authentication solution into the Irish wireless public Internet access market.

This cooperation agreement means that international WeRoam customers will be able to access Bitbuzz's WLAN hotspots in hotels, bars, coffee shops and other public areas easily and safely by using a SIM card and PIN code. The process of purchasing pre-paid cards will no longer be necessary, for these WeRoam customers.

To develop the patent-pending SIM authentication technology, WeRoam combined its many years of know-how in GSM roaming and clearing with the unique characteristics of WLAN technology. WeRoam's customers have fast, easy and secure access to wireless Internet services from thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots across the world and all they need for authentication is their personal 4-digit PIN number and a SIM card. They will be conveniently charged to their monthly mobile phone invoice.

Bitbuzz operates Wi-Fi hotspots across Ireland at well known locations such as "The Market Bar", "The Mespil Hotel", "The Kylemore Cafe" and "Fitzpatrick Castle" and can now, thanks to its cooperation agreement with WeRoam, expand its authentication methods to include the future-oriented SIM technology as the first WISP in Ireland to do so.



Background:

Bitbuzz is Ireland's largest Independent Wi-Fi network operator. Founded in 2003, Bitbuzz now operaters 30 Wi-Fi hotspots in the Republic of Ireland, and plans to rolll out over 200 sites in the next 2 years. Bitbuzz provides WiFi services to numerous types of locations such as hotels, caf? bars, coffee shops, filling stations and shopping centres as well as wholesale services to other third parties such as mobile operators who wish to extend their service using Bitbuzz locations.
http://www.bitbuzz.com

WeRoam facilitates the seamless integration of WLAN and GSM network technologies, enabling global roaming for WLAN services. Key solutions found in GSM technology have been adopted to make up the WeRoam service, which provides secure authentication, signaling conversion, clearing and settlement services. This positions WeRoam as the only open roaming platform supporting all relevant authentication methods for WLAN Roaming such as SIM, Radius and EAP SIM. The wireless footprint includes today more than 10.000 Wi-Fi hotspot locations worldwide.

The company was established in 2001 and is owned by TOGEWA Holding (Switzerland) and Infonet Service Corporation (USA). WeRoam?s innovative SIM based WLAN roaming solution is patent pending.
http://www.weroam.com