Integrated Wi-Fi and 3G Wireless WAN Service

US : Boingo Wireless and Birdstep Technology announced a software licensing and marketing agreement that will make it easier for operators worldwide to offer an integrated Wi-Fi and 3G wireless WAN service.

Birdstep Technology will integrate Boingo software development kit (SDK) authentication software into its Wi-Fi / WAN Access Connection Manager. The integration will make Birdstep’s connectivity software “Boingo network ready,” giving Birdstep’s operator customers the capability to easily develop a Wi-Fi service that includes access to the Boingo Roaming System network of more than 22,000 Wi-Fi hot spots globally including 188 airports and 4,300 hotels.

Boingo will also use the Birdstep WAN Access Connection Engine SDK to integrate GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, 1xRTT and EV-DO network connection capabilities into its award-winning Boingo® Software, the industry’s leading software for accessing public Wi-Fi hot spots.

The two companies have a track record of success with carriers. Boingo’s Platform Services Partners include BT Infonet Services Corp., EarthLink, Fiberlink, MCI, Nextel Communications, Telecom Italia and Skype. Birdstep Technology’s best-of-class connectivity technologies are in use with customers including Nextel Communications in the U.S., as well as T-Mobile Group, Vodafone Group, TeliaSonera and Telenor in Europe.

“Wi-Fi and cellular data are complementary technologies and, as the availability of cellular data services grows, are becoming increasingly attractive as supplemental services for business travelers,” said Dave Hagan, president and CEO of Boingo Wireless. “An integrated offering that combines the mobility of 3G and the speed of Wi-Fi is a perfect mix for today’s road warrior.”

“Shielding users from the complexity of wireless networks has become the significant success factor for integrated wireless services,” said Jørgen Bredesen, CEO of Birdstep Technology. “Boingo’s success with Wi-Fi will be extended through the integration of Birdstep’s software which brings the same simplicity to the WWAN world as well.”

Birdstep’s WAN Access Connection Engine SDK helps PCs and PDAs connect to 2.5G and 3G cellular data networks via handsets and PC cards. Thus, cellular data users can become fully mobile - they can read their e-mails and surf the web, without the need to know complex network information or the need to configure their laptop or PDA.

Boingo Software is available for Windows, Windows Mobile and Mac OSX. It is the key to the worldwide Boingo Roaming System, which gives business travelers the best choice of Wi-Fi hot spots by combining the locations of over 100 leading Wi-Fi operators representing over 22,000 locations into one worldwide network, and allowing the user to roam onto any of these locations with a single subscription.

The addition of 2.5G and 3G technologies from Birdstep Technology will help users fill in the coverage gaps with more ubiquitous cellular data access when Wi-Fi is not available. The tool will be appropriate for cellular service providers or mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that are offering Wi-Fi combined with 2.5G / 3G data services.

Boingo will also offer the software as an SDK for its Platform Services Partners, who leverage the Boingo Wi-Fi network to offer their own Wi-Fi service. With the SDK, Platform Services partners can develop customized software under their own brand name. The Platform Services program also provides a full suite of back-office billing, roaming, mediation and clearinghouse services to allow partners to offer their own Wi-Fi service quickly and cost effectively.