Zipit Users to Enjoy Free Wi-Fi Instant Messaging at Nearly 9,000 U.S. McDonald’s Through Agreement with Wayport
September 27, 2007, Greenville, S.C. — Zipit
Wireless Inc., the company behind the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2
(Z2), announced today a significant agreement with Wayport,
Inc., an international leader in the design and integration of
applications and software over wired and wireless carrier grade
networks. The agreement allows Zipit users to access free Wi-Fi
service at nearly 9,000 Wayport-enabled McDonald’s restaurants
across the United States. The free Wi-Fi service for Zipit
owners is targeted to launch in mid-November 2007. An instant
message will be sent to Zipit owners, letting them know that
their Zipit software has been updated to enable them to connect
for free at Wayport hot spots in McDonald’s.
The only device of its type, Z2 supports all of the most popular
instant messaging platforms favored by teens – AOL, Yahoo and
MSN. Z2 also features MyTunez™, a fully capable music player
that enables Z2 users to listen to their entire music collection
and simultaneously IM with friends while connected to Wayport’s
service. Z2 takes full advantage of existing home networks, as
well as publicly available Wi-Fi networks with no monthly or per
message fees.
“We are pleased to announce our alliance with Wayport. This
relationship is a real plus for our customers.” said Frank
Greer, CEO and president of Zipit Wireless Inc. “By enabling our
devices to access Wayport’s service at McDonald’s, we‘ve given
our customers the assurance that no matter where they go in the
United States, there is always one place to go where they can
freely IM with their friends.”
“By enabling Zipit users to access our Wi-Fi network at
McDonald’s, we are continuing to offer more value to our
customers and increase the relevancy of Wi-Fi to this customer
base,” said Dave Vucina, CEO of Wayport. “The combination of
Zipit’s innovative Z2 product with Wayport’s secure network and
customer support will provide a high quality, IM experience at
thousands of locations nationwide.”
About Wayport, Inc.
Building on its established network infrastructure encompassing
nearly 12,000 locations in 35 countries, Wayport designs,
develops and enables software and applications over carrier
grade networks for innovative organizations in a number of
vertical markets encompassing retail, health care, hospitality,
managed services and others. Wayport helps organizations attract
and retain loyal customers, create new business capabilities and
improve operational efficiencies at premier venues including
major hotels, airports, McDonald’s and Hertz locations, and
other retail brands worldwide. To learn more about Wayport,
please visit www.wayport.net or to see locations worldwide,
visit www.wayport.net/locations.
About Zipit Wireless Inc.
Zipit Wireless Inc. is a Greenville, S.C.-based developer of
consumer electronics. The company focuses on wireless
communication and entertainment devices that allow consumers to
stay tapped into their world. The company’s newest product is
the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2 (Z2), a portable IM device that
connects to wireless home networks and open, or free “Wi-Fi
hotspots” and enables teens and pre-teens to IM and enjoy their
music collections with no service or per message fees, while
eliminating the dependency on the family PC. For more
information about Zipit Wireless Inc. and the Z2, visit
zipitwireless.com.