Quiconnect To Offer Sprint Access To Wi-Fi Hotspots In Portugal
Quiconnect enables PT WLAN customers and Sprint WLAN customers to use each other's Wi-Fi hotspots
-/December 7, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- Quiconnect, an international virtual network enabler, announced today it is extending Sprint's network reach for international business travellers. The company has signed a contract with PT Wi-Fi to offer Sprint exclusive access to over 800 WLAN hotspots in Portugal.
In September 2005, Quiconnect also announced a deal with Hub Télécom (formerly ADP Télécom) to offer global service providers access to Hub Télécom's WLAN hotspots. Sprint is the first service provider customer of Quiconnect to leverage the Hub Télécom partnership.
Sprint has been working with Quiconnect since April 2005 to extend its Wi-Fi presence internationally and offer corporate customers Wireless LAN (WLAN) access at locations around the world.
Serving 96% of the Fortune 500 companies, Sprint has been developing its WLANpresence extensively in the USA over the past several years providing connectivity for its customers at flagship venues - high value, high traffic locations such as hotels, convention centres and airports across the country - where customers desire it most and can derive the greatest benefit.
Quiconnect assists telecom operators to better serve their customers by offering branded wireless voice and data services to create virtual networks, along with all associated technical and financial interconnectivity.
Mark Brigman, Sprint's WLAN business development manager, explains, "The majority of our business users are travelling with Wi-Fi technology and to simplify log-in, we launched our Extended WorkplaceT software for clients' laptops. This identifies and displays a menu of connectivity choices and gives users the option to point, click and get connected regardless of the access type. Extended Workplace ensures that customers benefit from a secure, simple and consistent Sprint-branded user experience wherever they are around the world."
Quiconnect works closely with associated network operators to create a virtual network for Sprint customers globally, managing all user authentication and billing, and enabling a consistent Sprint-branded customer experience irrespective of the actual local service provider or network operator used. Customers will receive only one bill from Sprint, no matter how many network operators are used or countries visited.
Troy Simoni, Quiconnect's chief executive officer, says, "Our focus is all about providing service providers quality footprint to extend their networks virtually. Their corporate customers want easy WiFi access as they travel internationally and the deal negotiated with PT Wi-Fi reflects this. Both the commercial aspects and technical interoperability between their systems and ours were done swiftly - a clear sign that PT Wi-Fi sees the huge potential of our business model."
Goncalo Pinheiro, PT Wi-Fi's Marketing Director, explains, "We are a specialist in telecommunications networks and services at high volume WLAN hotspots across Portugal. Clearly Quiconnect is innovating in the whole area of service provider interconnectivity and this agreement with enable us to extend use of our hotspots to Sprint's corporate customers."
Sprint is the first service provider customer of Quiconnect to leverage the PT Wi-Fi partnership. Brigman says, "We are aggressively adding international footprint to support Extended WorkplaceT and the Quiconnect deal with PT Wi-Fi totally reinforces why we chose them - they have the connections and skills to sign up 'local' network operators quickly on our behalf thereby adding huge value to, not only our business, but the customers we serve."
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit
http://www.sprint.com
About Quiconnect
Quiconnect enables virtual networks for voice over Internet (VoIP) and data, providing technical and financial interconnectivity and clearinghouse services worldwide. It offers access to wireless local network (WLAN) operators' footprints through a single, cost efficient and easy-to-manage service. Headquartered in London UK, Quiconnect was founded in 2001 and operates offices in Grenoble, France and San Diego USA. For more information, visit
http://www.quiconnect.com
About Portugal Telecom
Portugal Telecom's activities cover all segments of the telecommunications sector: fixed, mobile, multimedia, data and corporate solutions. These telecommunications and multimedia services are available in Portugal, Brazil and in growing international markets. The international presence of Portugal Telecom spreads to countries like Morocco, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Timor, Angola, Kenya, China and São Tome and Principe. For more information, visit
http://www.telecom.pt
About PT Wi-Fi
PT Wi-Fi, part of Portugal Telecom Group, deploys and manages WLAN services in high profile public places. As Portugal's market leader, PT Wi-Fi has more than 800 live hotspots across Portugal, and more than 14.000 accessible hotspots available worldwide through roaming partners.
For more information, visit
http://www.ptwifi.pt
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