AA, DL & UA Partner with T-Mobile to expand Wi-Fi

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American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines Partner with T-Mobile to Expand ``Wi-Fi'' 802.11b Wireless Broadband Internet Access


T-Mobile HotSpot(SM) Customers GET MORE(SM) Convenient Locations Through Nation's Largest "Wi-Fi" Network


BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2002-- T-Mobile USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG, today announced an agreement with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to provide 'Wi-Fi' (802.11b) wireless broadband Internet access in each airline's clubs and lounges across the country, giving even more airline customers convenient, reliable access to the Internet, corporate e-mail and other business applications at super-fast speeds 40-50 times faster than standard dial-up connections. In addition to expanding existing coverage in select American Airlines Admirals Clubs, T-Mobile plans to add HotSpot(SM) to approximately 100 of the most frequented American, Delta and United clubs and lounges over the next year. Additionally, coverage may be extended to airline gates as airport approvals are secured.
T-Mobile HotSpot service allows customers with wireless-enabled laptops or PDAs to access the Internet or corporate intranets while they're away from their home or office, with a T1-speed connection fast enough to accommodate the full spectrum of applications, including e-mail, streaming video and multi-media conferencing.

The partnerships between T-Mobile and American, Delta and United build upon T-Mobile's existing service offering in more than 40 airport locations across the country, giving added convenience to business travelers who already benefit from the service. "It's greatly reduced the 'unconnected' down time that I previously had when flying," said Misha Sakellaropoulo, the Executive Director of a leading online publication who travels on a monthly basis. "Knowing that I have the opportunity to pop in and quickly sync up with e-mail between flights means I have to spend less time in my hotel room at night trying to catch up on the day's events -- I can actually DO something in the cities I'm visiting."

Robert Dotson, President and COO of T-Mobile USA, said today's announcement builds on the GET MORE(SM) promise that the T-Mobile brand represents in the marketplace -- the ability to help consumers and business customers use the benefits of wireless services to get more from life®. "T-Mobile's partnerships with American, Delta and United -- the top three airlines -- further delivers on our commitment to expand the convenience of 'Wi-Fi' as a complement to our other service offerings and are particularly compelling for T-Mobile's growing base of business customers who also frequent the airline clubs and lounges," said Dotson. "Availability of a reliable, fast connection in prime airline locations hits the 'sweet spot' for the business traveler who can stop in, quickly download their e-mail in a comfortable location and relax or be on their way."

According to Yankee Group 2002 Corporate Wireless Survey, almost 25 percent of all enterprise workers are considered mobile, spending more than 20 percent of their time away from their workspace. This equates to 40 million mobile professionals in the U.S. who still want and need access to the Internet or their corporate intranet and e-mail servers.

T-Mobile HotSpot service is on target to be available in over 2,000 locations by the end of the year and represents the largest, fastest-growing network of standards-based "Wi-Fi" (802.11b) public access points in the country. The service is currently available in over 1,800 locations, including Starbucks coffeehouses, airports, airline clubs and, by early 2003, Borders bookstores and cafes. A complete list of T-Mobile HotSpot locations is available online at www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/.

The expanding availability of T-Mobile HotSpot service complements the company's suite of wireless data services for the business customer, including World Class(SM) global voice service that allows "one phone, one number" when traveling internationally and T-Mobile Internet, providing wireless data access through handheld devices anywhere on T-Mobile's nationwide 2.5G high-speed data network.