Wireless Access for AirTran Passengers.
Airpath Wireless, Inc., a provider of high-speed wireless broadband Internet access, is teaming with Cisco Systems to deploy a network of Cisco Mobile Office solutions in all of AirTran`s boarding gates.
Under the agreement, Airpath Wireless becomes a member of the Cisco Mobile Office program and will build, maintain and support Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) networks using Cisco equipment. The two companies will collaborate on generating venue awareness. Last week, Airpath Wireless announced its relationship as the exclusive wireless service provider to AirTran Airways.
“We believe this announcement is one of the first to make wireless access available to every single passenger on an airline,” said Tim Barrett, vice president of Airpath Wireless. “We are not limiting access to executive clubs and, in working with Cisco, we are making access secure, reliable and easy. We at Airpath Wireless are very pleased to be forerunners in the Wireless “Hot Spot” market and our deployment plan is being executed at a pace ideal for the market.”
Airpath will install the Cisco Aironet 350 Series of Wi-Fi compliant wireless local area network (WLAN) products as well as Cisco`s Building Broadband Services Manager (BBSM) and Cisco 2600 and 3600 Series Routers in the 37 airports serviced by AirTran Airways. Deployments reaching 80% of AirTran passengers will be complete by the end of February, with the remainder concluded in the summer of 2002.
The Cisco Mobile Office initiative provides mobile business professionals with secure, high-speed network access from locations outside an immediate office, including public facilities like hotels, airports and coffee shops.
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Airpath Wireless provides high-speed broadband wireless coverage to condominiums, businesses, marinas, convention centers, hotels and airports and currently has networks installed in Toledo, Ohio and Southeastern Florida. The system will be expanding to include airports throughout the Eastern/Southeastern portion of the United States.
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