Today iPass –- a longtime leader in enterprise mobility services for the world’s largest companies — made available an app for BlackBerry devices that enables one-click Wi-Fi connectivity at the more than 140K iPass hotspots in some 83 countries worldwide. In many situations Wi-Fi connectivity is a preferable means of connecting…more affordable, and oftentimes providing higher performance than 3G cellular.
Despite 3G connectivity on many devices, the advanced applications currently in use from vendors such as Oracle, Siebel, Salesforce.com and Microsoft demand the wider bandwidth associated with Wi-Fi for fuller functionality and greater usability. iPassConnect for BlackBerry smartphones allows users to remain truly productive when away from the office.
iPass is available for all current and future Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry smartphones, including:
- BlackBerry Bold
- BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220
- BlackBerry Pearl 8120
- BlackBerry Curve 8900
- BlackBerry Curve 8320
- BlackBerry Curve 8350i
- BlackBerry 8820
iPass saw a 200 percent increase in users of iPass Wi-Fi on handhelds from Q1 2009 to Q2 2009, thanks to the global smartphone market growing by 27 percent year-on-year to 40.9 million units (Gartner 2009). iPass Mobile Office now enables connectivity across platforms that account for more than 80 percent of the global smartphone market.
The iPass hotspot footprint (map) includes key business venues including 85 of the world’s top 100 busiest airports and a total of 553 airports worldwide as well as over 23,500 hotels and conference venues. iPass says their global virtual network includes wired and wireless broadband in 93 countries including over 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, hotel Ethernet locations and 3G mobile broadband.
Outside of the US, iPass’ largely enterprise customer base is typically reached through channel partners such as Orange Business Services, Deutsche Telekom and Cable & Wireless, or through value added resellers. Within the US, iPass sells directly to enterprise customers, but end-users, based in the US, can sign up for the consumer offering directly from the iPass web site.
iPass Mobile Office currently supports Windows Vista, XP and 2000, Max OS X 10.4 and 10.5, Symbian S60 Third Generation devices (versions 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2), Windows Mobile 5, 6 and Pocket PC 2003, and the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch. The iPass Global Wi-Fi plan costs between $6.95 and $9.95.
Others in the global hotspot business include:
- Wayport – which AT&T acquired in December 2008 – began operating as AT&T Wi-Fi Services. Wayport’s footprint included hotspot locations in retail, hospitality and healthcare venues in nearly 20,000 hotspots in the U.S. – and access to more than 80,000 global hotspots through roaming agreements. AT&T subscribers can get free WiFi access.
- Boingo’s network of Wi-Fi hotspots – which includes more than 100,000 locations around the world – will be available to both Verizon FiOS and DSL broadband subscribers. Boingo typically charges users $9.95 a month at North American hotspots, such as airports, cafes and restaurants. Verizon may offer free Boingo service to its DSL and FiOS subscribers.
Related Dailywireless stories include; AT&T Reports Dramatic Growth of Wi-Fi and Rumor: Verizon to Offer Free Boingo Access?.
