Boingo Wireless, which claims it is the world’s leading wholesale network aggregator of neutral-host Wi-Fi networks, today announced it has signed a roaming agreement with FON, that is expected to an additional 130,000 hot spot locations - more than doubling the company’s network size.
FON hardware and software is used in some 130,000 Wi-Fi locations, operated by businesses and individuals. For Boingo users, these new locations provide additional Wi-Fi locations, complementing Boingo’s existing commercial locations. Google, Skype and other investors have invested $21.5 million in Fon.
Boingo, through its Concourse subsidiary, operates neutral host wireless access systems that provide commercial wireless voice and data services. Boingo Mobile users pay $7.95 per month for unlimited access to hot spots worldwide to make VoIP calls, use messaging services or surf the Internet from their handset.
FON hot spots are provided by community members (called Foneros) who share their unused bandwidth via a FON router in exchange for free Wi-Fi access when roaming through any other FON access point. FON recently signed a partnership with Time Warner Cable, to give their cable modem service subscribers the opportunity utilize free unlimited Wi-Fi access at any of FON’s partner ISP Wi-Fi hotspots.
Boingo’s free Wi-Fi client software combines more than 660 network names into one “Boingo Wireless” network and stores the user name and password to simplify identifying and connecting to commercial Wi-Fi networks. To date, the company has announced Platform Services partnerships with BT Infonet, EarthLink, Fiberlink, Nextel Communications, Verizon Business and Skype.
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