Just In: Vonage and EarthLink Team to Offer WiFi Access

By Johanne Torres

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

VoIP service provider Vonage (News - Alert) announced Monday that it joined forces with EarthLink to offer customers WiFi Internet access in select cities throughout the United States. The companies did so by inking a new, three-year contract.

 

The new contract calls for Vonage to buy Internet access on a wholesale basis from EarthLink in all cities where the company will build, own and operate municipal wireless networks. Vonage agreed to resell this WiFi Internet service to its consumers under the Vonage brand.

 

EarthLink has ongoing municipal WiFi (News - Alert) contracts in Philadelphia; Anaheim, California; Milpitas, California and New Orleans.

 

“Giving Vonage customers greater access to affordable, high-speed Internet access makes great sense, and is another way we are working to improve the Vonage customer experience,” said Vonage’s CEO, Mike Snyder, in a statement. “From the moment customers purchase our service, we are focused on making sure that we meet and exceed their expectations and that they can connect more easily, affordably and reliably than with any other provider.”

 

As an added bonus, Vonage reportedly has plans later this year to provide hardware—such as wireless modem devices and other complementary software tools—to customers who will be using the service, as an alternative to DSL or cable modems. The VoIP service provider said that it also plans to make its WiFi phone compatible with this new service.

 

“As a leader in municipal WiFi networks, EarthLink is committed to open access, which enables other companies to offer their unique services to their customers at consumer-friendly rates,” said Donald Berryman, executive vice president for EarthLink and president of the ISP's municipal networks unit, in a statement. “Vonage can continue to trail blaze and evolve its brand by expanding its suite of product offerings, through this agreement, in the emerging municipal WiFi market.”

 

Vonage also announced Monday that Tim Smith, the company’s interim president of Vonage Network, Inc., since June 2006, will now hold the position permanently.

 

As president of Vonage Network Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp., Smith will be in charge of all of Vonage’s network and systems operations globally and manage the Vonage Network staff.

 

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