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AnchorFree Acquires MetroFreeFi.Com; Creates World's Largest Free High Speed Wi-Fi Network

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 May 2006, 09:02 CDT

AnchorFree today announced the acquisition of MetroFreeFi.com, a company dedicated to helping consumers locate and gain access to free hot spots. The acquisition gives AnchorFree consumers access to the world's largest free global Wi-Fi network, consisting of 10,000 hot spots in more than 2,400 cities across the U.S., including broad coverage of all the major metro markets, and more than 270 cities internationally. The combined company will be known as AnchorFree and the hot spot services can be accessed at www.anchorfree.com.

This acquisition further propels AnchorFree's mission to deliver free high speed wireless Internet access to every consumer. In 2004, AnchorFree pioneered one of America's first Hot Zones for the city of Palo Alto, CA, and the company has continued to steadily build its free network throughout the U.S.

Independent industry research firm Informa Telecoms and Media estimates there are 100,000 Wi-Fi hot spots worldwide. Based on that figure, the acquisition of MetroFreeFi.com increases AnchorFree's share to 10 percent of the worldwide Wi-Fi market.

In addition to being one of the largest providers of Wi-Fi access, AnchorFree is also one of the fastest providers of Wi-Fi. Unlike competitors that offer free Wi-Fi at sub-standard speeds of 300 kilobytes per second, AnchorFree delivers lightening speeds of 5,120 kilobytes per second to its customers through its established 100,000 hot-spot network.

"Today is significant, as it marks an industry transformation -- giving consumers and businesses free wireless Internet on their terms," said David Gorodyansky, president and co-founder of AnchorFree. "By combining MetroFreeFi.com's network with our own, AnchorFree is gaining significant footprint and helping connect more people with free and secure Wi-Fi across the globe."

MetroFreeFi.com is a user-run community that brings together over 10,000 free Wi-Fi hot spots globally. The online community consists of thousands of independent hot-spot networks that have united into one global alliance. The alliance is currently proliferated and powered by AnchorFree.

"We are thrilled to be part of AnchorFree," said Ryan MacCarthy, founder of MetroFreeFi.com. "AnchorFree's acquisition of MetroFreeFi.com is great for most consumers who simply will not pay for wireless Internet access."

AnchorFree will build on MetroFreeFi.com's success and will continue to partner with people and organizations that bring free Wi-Fi to more locations. The company will work to deepen relationships with hot-spot locations to further consumer access to free wireless Internet.

The acquisition brings a number of benefits to mobile laptop users, including:

-- Offers consumers a network of 10,000 free Wi-Fi hot spots

-- Extends globally

-- Unites thousands of independent access points

-- Helps build a rapidly growing member and community base

Every online business, including VoIP, e-commerce sites, search engines and online communities, can benefit from this global Wi-Fi network. AnchorFree plans to allow partners to utilize the free global Wi-Fi network and drive more business through its customer base via enabling their products, services or advertising to go mobile.

About AnchorFree

AnchorFree provides consumers and businesses access to the nation's largest network of free high-speed Wi-Fi. Through its acquisition of MetroFreeFi.com, AnchorFree's network includes 10,000 Internet hot spots and "Hot Zones" in the nation's major metropolitan retail districts. AnchorFree's ISP and Internet content partners benefit from increased online e-commerce and media revenues. AnchorFree's mission is to provide wireless users throughout the world free access to relevant information on the Internet. For more information, visit www.anchorfree.com.

Source: Business Wire

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