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Sprint and Cometa Networks Announce Agreement to Provide Additional Wi-Fi Hot Spots

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and CHICAGO, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint and Cometa Networks today announced an agreement to allow PCS Wi-Fi Access subscribers to use select Cometa Hotspots. The deal will enable broader access to customers using the public high-speed wireless data service from Sprint, which will use 802.11b technology to enable mobile professionals to replicate their desktop environments in key locations across the country. By the end of the year, Cometa Hotspots will be available as part of PCS Wi-Fi Access at over 250 locations in Seattle and will include 50 McDonald's restaurants, 40 Tully's Coffee locations, 12 Barnes & Noble bookstores and major office towers in downtown Seattle and Bellevue.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )

Sprint plans to launch PCS Wi-Fi Access in hundreds of locations later this month. The public service will focus on locations with high concentrations of business travelers such as airports, hotels and convention centers where users are most likely to need high-speed wireless data to access large files and applications. In addition to the Cometa Hotspots, PCS Wi-Fi Access will consist of roaming agreements with Wayport and Airpath Wireless, as well as Wi-Fi ZONES(TM) owned and operated by Sprint. The service is designed to complement PCS Vision(SM) services offered on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, currently the largest next generation wireless network in the United States, with data speeds averaging 50 to 70 Kbps.

"Providing high-speed wireless access to critical data to enable our business customers to be productive no matter where they are is a priority for Sprint," said Phil Bowman, vice president, business marketing for the PCS Division of Sprint. "Our agreement with Cometa Networks extends our ability to provide Wi-Fi services to customers in more places. With the launch of PCS Wi-Fi Access, customers will have another option to stay connected while away from the office, in addition to using the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network."

"Cometa Networks is pleased to support Sprint in the national rollout of their PCS Wi-Fi Access service," said Gary Weis, CEO of Cometa. "The rich diversity of Cometa's Hotspots in a variety of community-based venues allows convenient customer access in ways that fit their busy lifestyles."

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With approximately 70,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all- digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com/ .

About Cometa Networks

Cometa Networks was created in December 2002 by technology leaders AT&T, Intel and IBM and global investment concerns Apax Partners and 3i. Cometa is a "Wi-Fi carrier's carrier" deploying public Wi-Fi (802.11) wireless broadband Internet access sites in partnership with nationally and regionally branded retail partners. The Cometa Hotspot broadband wireless internet network is available to consumers through telecommunications companies, internet service providers, cable operators and wireless carriers. Visit Cometa at http://www.cometanetworks.com/ .