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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Boingo Boosts Wi-Fi Security
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 8 -- Boingo Wireless today
announced the latest release of its award-winning Wi-Fi connection software,
which includes key new security, reliability and ease-of-use features as well
as Windows XP Service Pack 2 compatibility. The new software also opens up
more than 3,500 new hot spot locations in Europe -- doubling the number of
live hot spots in the Boingo(R) Roaming System.
The free software is available for download at
http://www.boingo.com/download.html. Current Boingo software users can easily
upgrade to the latest version by clicking the help tab on their current
version of Boingo software, and then clicking "Update Boingo Wireless
Software."
More than 500,000 individuals and enterprises have downloaded prior
versions of Boingo's Wi-Fi connection software. The Wi-Fi connection software
simplifies finding and connecting to Wi-Fi networks at home, at the office and
at all of Boingo's thousands of public hot spots.
Boingo will also release its software developer kit (SDK) for its Platform
Services partners, such as Earthlink, Fiberlink, Infonet Services Corp., MCI
and Telecom Italia. The SDK enables service providers to develop
custom-branded Wi-Fi connection applications to be used with the Boingo
Roaming System, or to integrate all of the new functionality into their
existing Boingo-based client applications.
"With this latest software release, we are keeping true to our mission to
make Wi-Fi secure and simple for consumers while at the same time making it
easy for our carrier partners to extend that experience to their customers,"
said Dave Hagan, Boingo president and COO. "The release of the SDK allows us
to accommodate an even wider range of provisioning environments which accounts
for the dramatic boost to the number of live hot spots in our network."
Added Security Features -- 802.1x and WPA
The new Boingo software utility adds support for 802.1x authentication and
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption standards to allow users to integrate
the software with corporate authentication schemes, making it the only client
needed for corporate, home and public Wi-Fi needs.
WPA support is available for Windows XP users who have installed the WPA
update from Microsoft, while 802.1x is available to Windows XP users and
Windows 2000 SP4 users. WPA support may also require a device driver update,
check with your Wi-Fi card manufacturer. WPA and 802.1x will be available for
all other Windows OS platforms with the next update of the Boingo software.
The new version of Boingo Software utility continues to include a private
VPN to encrypt data as it travels from a laptop to the Boingo data center.
This protects the user from hackers and snoops who attempt to capture
unprotected Wi-Fi data as it passes through the air.
Wi-Fi Network Profiles -- Focus on Simplicity
Via new private profile settings, the Boingo Software also includes the
ability for users to hide a specific network, or in areas with a lot of
signals, to reduce signal display clutter by hiding all networks except those
for which they have set up a profile. Users can also designate that the Wi-Fi
sniffer show private signals by user-designated profile name, instead of by
the SSID, allowing users with closed networks (non-broadcast) to keep their
SSIDs hidden from prying eyes.
As always, the software includes the ability to auto-connect to preferred
networks or have the software offer the connection, and the user can designate
an application to launch upon a successful connection -- such as a VPN in
public hot spots, or an email application at home or in the office.
SDK for Platform Services Partners
The Boingo SDK is also updated to allow carriers and operators to build
their own applications with these features. The SDK is an integral part of
Boingo's Platform Services offering, a turnkey Wi-Fi service for service
providers that also includes access to the Boingo Roaming System and a
complete suite of back-office billing, roaming, mediation and clearing-house
services.
The new SDK allows service providers to designate a variety of network
types, including a basic network, a roaming network and a premium network.
This allows the carrier to establish user experience guidelines or multiple
rate plans based on network type designations.
About Boingo Wireless
Boingo Wireless, Inc. is an ultra-high-speed wireless Internet service
available in thousands of locations such as hotels, airports, cafes, and other
public places, in dozens of countries throughout the world. Both directly and
through major carrier and ISP partners, Boingo provides business travelers
with a wireless broadband Internet connection to improve productivity while on
the road. Through its Wi-Fi software and Roaming System, Boingo makes finding
and connecting to Wi-Fi networks point-and-click simple and secure. More
information about Boingo is available at http://www.boingo.com.
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