Wi-Fi Hotspots Operator The Cloud Named One Of 50 to Watch for 2005



The Cloud joins the '50 to Watch' alumni list as one of the UK?s hottest companies, alongside Friends Reunited, Lastminute.com and LK Bennett.


-/3 Feb, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology News/-The Cloud, Europe's leading wireless broadband network operator, has been named by Real Business magazine as one of its '50 to Watch' businesses for 2005. The list ranks Real Business?s selection of Britain?s 50 highest-potential young firms and entrepreneurs.

Charles Orton-Jones, features editor, Real Business, said "All our readers are using WiFi now ? it?s becoming ubiquitous in airports, bars and the high street. As the country?s biggest WiFi provider, The Cloud is quite obviously a company to watch closely in 2005. Wi-Fi enabled phones will provide a major boost for the technology and The Cloud is very well positioned to reap the benefits from the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi."

Commenting on the selection process, Adam Leyland, editor, Real Business, said: "Attempting to pick out a broad range of fifty great-looking UK firms under four years old is fascinating, but not easy. We looked for innovation, an original concept or a fresh approach to doing something. We were after interesting people with bold ambitions tackling established markets or creating entirely new ones. The companies that made our list of 50 to Watch stood out among the 400-odd firms put forward by a range of consultants, academics, journalists, advisors, VC firms and other well-connected Real Business contacts."

George Polk, CEO and founder, The Cloud, said: "We?re witnessing the step-up to a world of wireless broadband connectivity, with wireless LAN now one of the fastest growing areas in global technology. Intel, Sony, IBM, Microsoft ? virtually all the big names in innovation ? have adopted broadband wireless as the future and are building it into their devices, applications and services. The growth of this technology in the home and office has been explosive. Our business is to bring easy and seamless network experiences to everyone when they are out and about in public spaces as well. The Cloud is working together with pioneers in this field ? notably O2 and BT, who recognize the power this service brings as part of an overall bundled service offering- to deliver innovative customer propositions to a growing base of potential users. Our challenge this year is to tear-down the last barriers to usage, creating a world where people can be wirelessly connected to their offices, their friends, their music, their internet with speed and ease all the time."

About The Cloud
The Cloud offers sophisticated national wireless LAN coverage in almost 5,000 wi-fi hotspot locations throughout the UK. The Cloud?s infrastructure is a multi-service provider platform, which allows providers such as ISPs, mobile operators and cable companies to offer a fully branded wireless LAN experience to their customers. With The Cloud, site owners maximise their revenue potential by supporting all major service providers at their location and customers enjoy the best possible experience and maximum ease of use. The company is opening more than 100 new locations each week. Launched in mid 2003, The Cloud actively partners with O2, BT, Ericsson and Intel among others to facilitate the growth of wireless broadband services across Europe. The Cloud?s investors include 3i and Accel Partners, Europe.

Web site: http://www.iwantwifihere.com