Gric supports 802.11b and cellular technologies, and expects support for 802.11g, GPRS and 1XRTT (CDMA2000 1X) by the end of 2004. Authentication is through its Mobile Office client software, which also provides access information for different locations. Gric is an excellent choice for customers needing a single global network for Internet access, and because of the large number of hotspots supported, was a top contenders in our MSE RFI.
Gric Communications, (408) 955-1920. www.gric.com
iPass
At its inception, iPass was a dial-up network service provider that let users obtain ISP service globally with a local call. It accomplished this by acting as a network aggregator, reselling service from a multitude of ISPs and employing client software to facilitate connections. Like its closest competitor, Gric, iPass has extended its business model to include wireless hotspots, offering an impressive 3,990 locations in 500 cities, 79 airports, 2,013 restaurants, 888 hotels, 10 convention centers and 1,000 other locations. In addition, its traditional dial-up access spans 15,000 access points in 150 countries, assuring subscribers some form of connectivity in many parts of the world.
IPass concentrates on sales to large enterprises. For smaller customers, iPass has partners that resell its service, using a combination of their own brands and the iPass name. The company offers pricing on a per-minute basis, saying that its studies show this model proves more economical for most customers. Pricing in the United States is typically 12 cents per minute.
The company's client software, iPassConnect, is similar in functionality to the Boingo client and provides a number of helpful functions, including a consistent user interface independent of the network provider and the type of access network; location of service based on city, state and country; the ability to connect to the Internet at these locations; and user authentication.
