Nokia WiFi handsets can bypass cellular networks worldwide

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 23 October 2007 11:43

Your IT - Home IT

Nokia has teamed up with global WiFi hotspot operator, Boingo, to enable users of its WiFi-enabled handsets to access tens of thousands of Boingo hotspots around the world.

Users download the Boingo Mobile client software onto their handset and can then access any hotpot operated by Boingo or one of its roaming partners for $US7.95 per month for what Boingo says is 'unlimited high-speed Internet access'. According to Boingo, its software identifies Boingo-enabled hotspots and automatically authenticates users with their Boingo account.

Boingo claims to operate more than 100,000 hotspots worldwide – including airports, hotels, cafes and metropolitan hot zones (there are 404 Boingo hotspots in Australia ).

The service is the result of the collaboration between Boingo and Nokia that, they say, "represents the successful realisation of a mutual vision to deliver a robust multimedia experience on mass market mobile devices."

The Boingo Mobile is available as a downloadable application via Nokia Download! on the Nokia N95, N80, N80 Internet Edition multimedia smartphones, or at http://mobile.boingo.com/nokia/ for selected Wi-Fi enabled Nokia S60-based devices.

From the beginning of November, Boingo Mobile will be accessible via Nokia Download! on additional selected Nseries smartphones as well as ESeries smartphones; via the Tableteer site on Nokia N800 and N810 tablets; and via Boingo's website at http://mobile.boingo.com/nokia/ . For a limited time, customers who sign up for service will receive the first month free.