GSA Technology Council

Happy Meal goes wireless…

ipasslogo: iPass Inc. (<A href="http://www.ipass.com">www.ipass.com</A>) provides software-enabled enterprise connectivity services designed to give employees secure access to information and applications on the corporate network from virtually any location in the world.”></P><br />
<P>McDonald’s is testing the feasibility of wireless broadband internet access in its restaurants and if all goes well will roll out the technology next year. According to the press release, McDonald’s plans to offer service coverage to as many of their customers as possible, including those that that are outside the building… waiting in the drive through line. <A href=more


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Happy Meal goes wireless…

ipasslogo: iPass Inc. (<A href="http://www.ipass.com">www.ipass.com</A>) provides software-enabled enterprise connectivity services designed to give employees secure access to information and applications on the corporate network from virtually any location in the world.”></STRONG></P><br />
<P><STRONG>REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.</STRONG> — November 10, 2003 — McDonald’s and iPass Inc. (Nasdaq: IPAS) announced today that the restaurant giant has determined its Wi-Fi hotspots should cater to the mobile enterprise professional and be Enterprise Ready based on the iPass testing regimen that certifies operators’ hotspots interoperable with security and policy systems mandated by enterprise IT departments. This decision by McDonald’s opens their hotspots to an iPass customer base of over 400,000 monthly users. The Enterprise Ready certification required of all networks before becoming integrated into the iPass Global Broadband Roaming footprint assures enterprise IT departments that their business travelers can connect with confidence to their corporate networks from McDonalds hotspot locations.</P><br />
<P>“As we consolidate our Wi-Fi plans in the U.S., our global initiative will likely involve many Wi-Fi operators across our worldwide operations,” said Mark Jamison, senior director of business development for McDonald’s. “We see iPass, and specifically the service uniformity and quality gained from their Enterprise Ready service specification, as well as the world-class customers that rely on iPass Enterprise Ready networks for their Wi-Fi based mobile connectivity, as an important part of our Wi-Fi program moving forward.”</P><br />
<P>iPass has already integrated McDonald’s restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boise, Idaho and Portland, Oregon on the Wayport network and restaurants in the greater Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin markets on the SurfHere by Toshiba network. Cometa Networks, which operates hotspots for McDonald’s in the Seattle, Washington and New York City tri-state area has a roaming agreement with iPass and is currently undergoing the Enterprise Ready testing and integration process.</P><br />
<P>Before becoming active in the iPass service all iPass network providers are certified as Enterprise Ready by passing a rigorous testing regimen to ensure service availability as well as interoperability with policy-based security systems such as virtual private networks, personal firewalls and virus protection. </P><br />
<P>“Fast and convenient service availability, and a uniform customer experience come to mind when one thinks of McDonald’s,” said Michael Moore, director of business development at iPass. “These are the same qualities iPass strives to deliver to our enterprise connectivity customers. The simplicity of the iPass service together with the convenience of the vast number of McDonald’s restaurants in the United States and around the world is extending the productivity potential of Wi-Fi to mobile professionals.”</P><br />
<P>Outside the United States, iPass also has agreements with McDonald’s Wi-Fi suppliers that have committed to becoming Enterprise Ready such as China Telecom in Shanghai and Guangdong inside Mainland China and Easy-up of Taiwan. </P><br />
<P>To find McDonald’s locations certified by iPass as Enterprise ready, visit the <A class=reglink href=iPass Access Point Finder.


About iPass
iPass Inc. (Nasdaq: IPAS) is a software-enabled virtual network operator (VNO) that provides enterprise connectivity services permitting secure access to information and applications on corporate networks from over 150 countries around the world. iPass has built a global Internet network that comprises over 20,000 access points, including an iPass Global Broadband Roaming (GBR) footprint of over 2,500 Wi-Fi hotspots and 1,000 Ethernet enabled venues at business-oriented locations such as airports, hotels and conference centers worldwide. The award-winning iPassConnect™ service interface simplifies the user connection experience and is easily deployed across multiple computing devices and operating systems. iPass service offerings also give enhanced control over security policy and connectivity management to information technology departments at iPass customers like General Motors, Dow Corning and Mellon Financial. Founded in 1996, iPass is headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif., with offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.


About McDonald’s Corporation
McDonald’s is the world’s leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 local McDonald’s restaurants serving 47 million customers each day in more than 100 countries. More than 80 percent of McDonald’s restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women. More information about McDonald’s is available at www.mcdonalds.com; for information about McDonald’s wireless initiative, visit www.mcdwireless.com.


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