MobileStar expands wireless Net access in Dallas

RICHARDSON, Texas -- MobileStar Network, a provider of broadband wireless Internet access in public areas, today officially launched its expanded service in Dallas/Fort Worth, which includes approximately 90 locations. Dallas is the first of several cities to expand its high-speed wireless service into airports, Admirals Clubs, hotels, meeting centers and Starbucks coffeehouse locations.

MobileStar has approximately 700 locations throughout the United States. 

The MobileStar high-speed wireless Internet service is accessible with a laptop, pocket PC or handheld device that is enabled with a wireless network card. The card retails for about $70. By launching a Web browser, users have wireless broadband connectivity for as little as $2.95 with no contractual commitment. Additionally, MobileStar offers users subscriptions ranging from $15.95 to $59.95 per month for unlimited national coverage, and features a pre-paid service, where customers can purchase minutes and consume them at their convenience. Cards are sold in $10, $20 and $50 increments.

Public hot spots

"MobileStar has expanded the breadth of coverage into the public domain at public hot spots such as hotels, airports and coffeehouses," said Robert Kaiser, president and CEO of MobileStar. "Our service is an extension of this office and home experience and we're confident that once people try the service they will want more of it."

Kaiser said MobileStar has researched all areas of business travel in order to create a business model that targets potentially high traffic locations and heavy users of the service. The company has identified target business districts throughout the U.S and abroad. These are high business density areas where MobileStar plans to build out a selection of hotels and nearby airports, convention centers, and other public access locations. 

Currently, MobileStar service is active in several hundred locations nationwide, including hotels, American Airlines Admirals Clubs, restaurants, and even entire airports including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Austin Bergstrom Airport, and Louisville International Airport. 

MobileStar actively targets corporations with a large base of traveling workers using its direct sales force. Additionally, MobileStar utilizes direct consumer and value-added reseller sales and marketing channels. With thousands of subscribers, MobileStar enjoys the largest subscriber base among all of its competitors, proving its leadership in the industry.

LAN standard

MobileStar operates on the Wi-Fi 802.11b wireless LAN standard to give mobile professionals wireless access to the Internet or their corporate Intranet at T-1 speeds in more than 650 locations across the country. The company plans to expand its footprint, which includes airports, hotels, conference centers, restaurants and coffeehouses across the country. 

Along with the launch, MobileStar also announced a new local area subscription plan for $29.95 per month for unlimited usage within the Metroplex. Under this plan, patrons have the freedom to visit all Dallas/Fort Worth locations including all D/FW Airport gates and terminals, American Airlines Admirals Clubs, American Airlines gates at Love Field Airport, selected local hotels and more than 70 Starbucks coffeehouse locations.

"MobileStar is quickly expanding in its existing role as the dominant U.S. player in public Wi-Fi coverage," said Amy Cravens, industry analyst for Cahners In-Stat. "With the addition of the Starbucks deployments, MobileStar owns the largest Wi-Fi footprint in Dallas, as well as across the nation."

WinBook customers

Also announced this week, WinBook Corporation and MobileStar launched a co-marketing campaign in which Wi-Fi 802.11b enabled WinBook customers will now have the option of wireless access at any of the 650 MobileStar public access locations (PALs) in airports, hotels, restaurants, business centers and select Starbucks coffeehouses nationwide. WinBook focuses on portable computing products. 

The agreement includes cross-promotional activities, giving buyers of WinBook's wireless LAN cards the ability to activate MobileStar and receive a free trial of MobileStar wireless broadband Internet access. When the trial period expires, WinBook customers will have the option to subscribe to MobileStar and choose from an array of monthly service packages, ranging from a metered Internet use to unlimited monthly access. 

Founded in 1996, MobileStar is the world's first wireless, broadband communications network that allows subscribers to access the Internet and their corporate Intranet remotely from public locations such as hotels, airports, restaurants, conference centers and coffeehouses at near T1 speeds. The high rate of laptop computer use among business travelers has prompted the need for high-speed Internet access outside of the home and office. MobileStar is building a network of broadband public Internet access locations convenient to mobile users.

MobileStar has formed many key partnerships with such companies as American Airlines, Starbucks, Hilton, HP, Cisco, and IBM. To date MobileStar has received two rounds of funding from leading institutional investors including Mayfield Fund, Blueprint Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Sienna Ventures, and Texas Pacific Group. 

Today, MobileStar has the largest footprint of active broadband wireless sites, as well as the largest and most mature subscriber base. MobileStar is also the first in this industry to implement a fully operational billing system that can support roaming with other carriers.