Friday, May 25, 2007

Boingo Ties Into FON

Santa Monica-based Boingo Wireless, an operator of a Wi-Fi networking ISP, said Thursday that it has signed a roaming agreement with FON, a Madrid-based operator of wireless hot spots. The agreement expands Boingo's network by an additional 130,000 hot spot locations. FON is a WiFi operator that allows users to install a public wireless router in exchange for free Wi-Fi access on its wireless network; users share their broadband access and provide a Wi-Fi access point using FON's specialized WiFi equipment, and in exchange are allowed to tap into FON's access points. Boingo Wireless operates a large virtual WiFi network which utilizes special client software for billing and connection into WiFi operators with agreements with the firm. FON is backed by Google, Skype, Index Ventures, and Sequoia Capital; Boingo is venture backed by New Enterprise Associates, Mitsui & Co., Steelpoint, Red Rock Ventures, and Sternhill Partners.