HOTSPOTZZ Debuts Free Wi-Fi Wireless Web Surfing for Sundance Film Festival

Wi-Fi 'Hot Zone' Lights Up Kimball Junction, Main Street and Prospector Square

    HOTSPOTZZ, one of the largest providers of wireless hot spots, is making its Park City debut by offering Sundance Film Festival goers free Wi-Fi Internet access. Web surfers along Main Street, Prospector Square and Kimball Junction can now log on free to a wireless Wi-Fi network set up by HOTSPOTZZ from January 16 - 26, 2003.

    "We want to give Sundance attendees the opportunity to stay connected during the festival," said Henry Smith, HOTSPOTZZ CEO. "Many people are taking time off work to attend the festival. HOTSPOTZZ provides film goers a chance to transition from the big screen to the laptop screen with ease."

    "Hot spots" are Internet access points that utilize wireless technology known as 802.11 or Wi-Fi and are becoming popular in public places such as coffee shops, airports, hotels and coffee shops. "Hot zones" are placed in large public areas such as parks and city blocks. Wi-Fi sends Internet signals through the air using radio waves. To make it work, a user needs a transmitting antenna, which is linked to any type of broadband connection (DSL, cable modem, fixed wireless, T-1). A second antenna, usually part of a laptop, receives the signal.

    To access the HOTSPOTZZ "hot zones" for free, a user simply needs a wireless enabled laptop. A few minor settings need to be changed (configure network settings to enable DHCP to obtain IP addresses dynamically) and the network can be located by selecting "hotspotzz." Windows XP and MacOS X will automatically identify the HOTSPOTZZ network. HOTSPOTZZ representatives will be on hand during peak hours of the festival handing out flyers and other free items.

    HOTSPOTZZ owns 110+ wireless-enabled locations in national and regional retail chains, hotels, business centers, and independent cafes and restaurants. HOTSPOTZZ locations include the San Francisco Bay Area, Utah, Los Angeles/Orange County, San Diego, Chicago, Seattle, and Boston. Utah locations now include the Coffee Garden and Wasatch Broiler. These hot spots comprise a significant percentage of the U.S. public wireless Wi-Fi hot spots in the United States.

    Retail subscribers can purchase scratch cards in 1-hour, 4-hour or 24-hour increments, use the "pay-as-you-go" option on the Web site or purchase a monthly subscription. Costs range from $2.95 for 1-hour to $19.95 for a monthly subscription.

    HOTSPOTZZ differentiates itself from other hot spot providers by offering the industry's only converged access platform that enables customers to use a single account for HOTSPOTZZ dial-up or wireless service. HOTSPOTZZ is owned by IKANO, the largest provider of private-label Internet services.

    Wi-Fi, or 802.11, is among the most promising new technologies for 2003, according to analysts. By 2006, there are expected to be 89,000 public Wi-Fi network access points and more than 99 million Wi-Fi users worldwide, according to Gartner Group.

    About HOTSPOTZZ
    HOTSPOTZZ is one of the nation's largest providers of Wi-Fi hot spots, with locations in retail chains, hotels, business centers, and independent cafes and restaurants throughout the U.S. HOTSPOTZZ owns a network of 110+ Wi-Fi hot spots, enabling end-users to roam throughout its network at no additional cost. HOTSPOTZZ's "eCoinBox(TM)" technology provides access control, accounting and auditing functions for the HOTSPOTZZ network and for affiliate networks. In addition, eCoinBox drives all back-end infrastructure for authentication, roaming and settlement services. HOTSPOTZZ is owned by IKANO Communications, the largest provider of private-label Internet services. IKANO served as the Official Data Networking Services Provider for the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information please visit http://www.hotspotzz.com  

By Robert Hoskins