The iPassConnect service, which includes wired hotel broadband, has been an enterprise-level service aimed at businesses. Now the subscription-based service has price plans that start at $29.95 a month. A Wi-Fi/3G combo plan packages an EVDO card for connectivity most anywhere. That plan costs $69.95 monthly + $125.00 (for 3G card & other fees) with a one year minimum commitment.
iPass has two North American plans and two “global” plans. The North American plan costs $30/month, while the the global plan costs $45/month. Adding a cellular component adds another $40/month.
iPass aggregates Wi-Fi hotspots from a number of network providers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, providing access via over 95,000 hotspots in 86 countries across the globe. The service is also available in more than 500 airports and more than 20,000 hotels, including chains like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott.
In the survey, iPass found that business users had increased their Wi-Fi hotspot use 89% in the second half of 2007 over the second half of the previous year. 3G usage also increased — by 70% — over the same period.
The survey revealed that the European hotspot market was growing dramatically — its Wi-Fi market share jumped to 40% from 31% in the surveyed period, while the U.S. market share dropped to 51% from 59%.
Usage in airport terminals alone accounts for 45% of all Wi-Fi hotspot usage, says iPass, while hotel usage makes up 29% of total usage.
