PINE BEACH, NJ, Sept. 29, 2003 — In the 1960s, hotels put signs out front that read, "Air Conditioning." In the 1970s, they attracted travelers by changing the signs to "FREE Cable." By the 1990s, the signs read, "FREE HBO." And in the 2000s, predicts Public IP Services, the signs will all read, "FREE Wireless Internet."
That’s because Public IP is a new wireless ISP that specializes in providing public spaces with wireless high-speed Internet, or WiFi. Through Public IP, any hotel, restaurant, Laundromat, cafe or lounge can become a wireless hot spot - a place where people can log onto the Internet from their PDAs, laptops and other wireless devices for free.
For business owners, the cost of becoming a Public IP hot spot is about the same as getting set up with DSL. But the return on investment, says Scott Tully, president of Public IP, is immediate-and the uses for WiFi extend beyond attracting travelers. "We all understand that wireless Internet is something that can be useful to people on the go and that offering free Internet access will draw a crowd," said Tully. "But customers are not the only ‘end-users’ for wireless Internet. We need to start thinking about other ways businesses can benefit from having WiFi available to employees. What about a restaurant’s wait staff entering orders on PDAs or retail salespeople instantly checking stock availability at all their locations? Businesses that learn to develop an electronic relationship with customers and employees will benefit the most from WiFi."
Public IP has partnered with Netopia (NASDAQ:NTPA) to become the first national ISP that includes a wireless ADSL router with its basic services. The company offers its hot spot solution, Public IP Zone Access, throughout the U.S. The service relies on Netopia’s 3-D Reach’ 3347W ADSL/Wireless gateway, which combines an ADSL modem, WiFi(R)-certified access point and Ethernet switch into a single broadband hot spot solution.
"We are thrilled to be working with Public IP as it deploys free wireless hotspots for the mobile WiFi community," said Jeff Porter, vice president of marketing at Netopia. "Our 3-D Reach wireless technology, coupled with the breadth of our multi carrier DSL network interoperability makes Netopia’s hotspot-in-a-box solution ideal for Public IP’s nation-wide deployment."
Availability
Public IP will release its Hot Spot Homepage, which will allow clients to determine the home page customers see when they connect in October. Clients can choose to send users to their own site or to a "virtual placemat," a page where clients can display ads from local businesses. Public IP clients are free to sell ad space for their Hot Spot Homepages.
"Business owners go through a lot of trouble and expense to attract new customers and keep them coming back," said Tully. "Advertising, entertainment, and interior design are a few things that businesses are willing to fund in order to do just that. But everyone likes free Internet, and free wireless Internet is even better. Smart business owners are realizing that offering free WiFi is another way to grow their customer base."
About Public IP
Public IP Services has developed strategic partnerships with Netopia and Covad Communications to offer our unique public Internet services. Public IP’s services include DSL, WiFi, Web Hosting, and various Hot Spot solutions.
Public IP Services is a New Jersey corporation with our headquarters located in Pine Beach NJ. More information about Public IP Services is available on our website www.publicip.net or by calling 800-616-2537.
Contact:
Scott Tully
Public IP Services
732-597-9517
tullys@publicip.net
Lisa Langlands
Netopia, Inc.
510-420-7529
llanglands@netopia.com
