Wi-Fi can give smartphone users extended coverage and lower costs

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.-- iPass, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS), a long-time leader in providing mobility services to some of the world’s largest companies, today announced service availability for Windows Mobile 6 devices. Users of the iPass Mobile Office service for enterprises and iPassConnect™ mobility service for individuals can now connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi using their Windows Mobile 6 smartphone and handheld devices. iPass plans to support the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch later this year and intends to support Wi-Fi-enabled Blackberry devices as well.

“The popularity of consumer-driven handheld devices changes the paradigm for enterprise IT by allowing people to be productive using Web-based applications through their own smartphone,” said Joel Wachtler, VP of marketing and strategy at iPass. “IT cannot ignore these devices, and instead must ensure that workers can be productive using them and that they don’t create an unreasonable burden for the business through expensive connectivity, poor security, or high support costs. iPass’ mission is to simplify the growing complexity of enterprise mobility, and expanding support to these platforms is a key element of our strategy.”

With more than 100,000 business-class hotspots worldwide, (also announced today), iPass Wi-Fi connectivity gives smart phone users a high performance, inexpensive alternative to 2.5G and 3G access provided by cellular providers. For international business travelers, the cost savings can be especially significant when they use Wi-Fi to avoid the high roaming fees mobile operators charge for out-of-country usage. In one recent, well-publicized incident*, a UK-based smartphone user was billed more than $22 thousand dollars by their cellular provider for downloading large data files in Germany.

In addition, the iPass Wi-Fi network can deliver broadband access in places where 3G doesn’t reach. Because 3G networks are normally rolled out first in metropolitan areas, those outside the city must often rely on modem-like 2.5G technology, or may have no cellular data coverage at all. Even in large cities, high-speed coverage isn’t ubiquitous. Tests conducted by industry analyst and wireless benchmarking firm Novarum show that true 3G connections are available only 60-70% of the time in major U.S. urban centers, due to hills, trees and other obstacles to reception. Lastly, 3G performance can degrade rapidly when in-building, and in these cases it may be the local Wi-Fi hotspot or WLAN that provides the only viable Internet access option.

More about iPass Support for Windows Mobile 6

With iPass, both consumer and enterprise users can get one-click access to the world’s leading Wi-Fi hotspot network, covering high-value business locations including hundreds of airports, hotels such as Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott; and retail locations including Starbucks coffeehouses and McDonald’s restaurants. They can also connect easily to home, corporate and 3rd-party wireless networks, with iPass service auto-detecting available Wi-Fi networks in their area and automatically connecting to their bookmarked locations.

Enterprise customers can obtain the following additional benefits:

    * A single monthly flat rate based on active users in a company, helping customers avoid paying for idle users or having runaway charges from heavy users
    * No international roaming charges–iPass Wi-Fi locations are available through a global flat rate plan with no additional fees
    * Support for iPass Mobile Office mobile device management functions that operate over the Internet

Pricing and Availability

iPass support for Windows Mobile 6 is now available. Use of Windows Mobile handhelds in the Mobile Office service is priced at a flat monthly rate for the enterprise based on the number of active users. For individuals in the United States looking for a subscription to the iPassConnect mobility service, pricing information is available at: www.ipassconnect.com.

Currently, iPass Mobile Office service supports Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), Windows Mobile and the Symbian OS. iPassConnect mobility service for individuals supports Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000,and Windows Mobile.

* The Telegraph, “Man fined £11,000 for downloading Friends,” March 3, 2008

About iPass Inc.

iPass helps enterprises unify the management of remote and mobile connectivity and devices. With iPass software and services, customers can create easy-to-use broadband solutions for their mobile workers, home offices, and branch and retail locations, complete with device management, security validation, and unified billing. iPass offerings are powered by its leading global virtual network, on-demand management platform, and award-winning client software. The iPass global virtual network unifies hundreds of wireless, broadband and dial-up providers in over 160 countries. Hundreds of Global 2000 companies rely on iPass services, including General Motors, Nokia, and Reuters. Founded in 1996, iPass is headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif., with offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia.