RemotePipes, Inc. Announces WiMAX Global Roaming Alliance (WGRA)3 June 2005
RemotePipes, Inc., a leading provider of worldwide mobile Internet access solutions, is formally announcing its WiMAX Global Roaming Alliance (WGRA) for the benefit of commercial entities, state and city governments, WISP's, equipment manufacturers, and other parties that can benefit from being a part of a group that is dedicated to the simplified distribution of competitive, ubiquitous wireless broadband services in major metropolitan areas and rural locations. The WGRA can be joined at no charge at this time, by qualified candidates, and is focused on consensus development and the propagation of roaming and interoperability mechanisms for networks based upon the 802.16 family of WiMAX specifications.
Eric Engbers, President of RemotePipes, stated, "We know that there are hundreds of local and regional network operators, who along with equipment suppliers and carriers around the world are going to want to be a part of our WiMAX Global Roaming Alliance (WGRA). With this announcement we are opening our arms to the wireless broadband sector and saying that together we can develop consensus and organize uniform, consistent, standards-based network implementations as a proper foundation for a best of breed roaming experience for users. By addressing these needs early in the WiMAX lifecycle, we can hopefully eliminate the substantial burdens experienced when other solutions have transitioned to being roaming enabled."
Doug Bonestroo, CEO of RemotePipes, added, "We revolutionized the SOHO and SME marketplace for global dial-up and WiFi Internet access services and we are going to be a disruptive force for WiMAX connectivity for mobile and nomadic users. We realize that the larger telecom providers have a virtual lock on the EV-based 3G marketplace and that the best way to counter that leverage is with a large group of partners in the US and around the world that are committed to standards based WiMAX roaming. We will welcome any carriers that want to join the effort, but unlike industry groups striving to make WiMAX appear complimentary to 3G, we will continue to view it as a directly competitive offering."
Mr. Engbers, who has been actively working within the global Internet roaming segment of the telecommunications market for years, will lead the alliance as chairman. "During the past few years we have received resounding confirmation from vendors, customers and distribution partners alike that our knowledge of the operational requirements and vision of the global roaming supply chain is exceptional, and as such I believe we bring a great deal of value to the table as the founders and leaders of this alliance. We do not want to create yet another standards body but rather drive toward consensus on the best standards, suggest changes if necessary, and push for uniform deployment and implementation of those standards in the production
environment. There is nothing worse than an accepted standard that has been implemented in 15 different flavors throughout the supply chain. As a case in point, we applaud Intel's involvement in supporting IRAP as a more fully rounded methodology to address the problems in global PWLAN roaming, caused in part by a lack of adopted standards. Unlike the ongoing WISPr challenges in PWLAN roaming, we also believe early and meaningful work amongst WiMAX providers can greatly reduce the chances of variants being created in
production WiMAX networks."
WGRA partners will work together not only to develop roaming interoperability implementation standards but also address other important acceptance factors to encourage rapid adoption. These efforts will include
streamlining production authentication and accounting functions between network operators in the production environment, ensuring uniform and consistent user processes between networks, as well as creating consistent and meaningful end user focused materials regarding WiMAX. Such materials will include information about the technology itself along with messaging designed to stem concerns about WiMAX security and reliability, a problem still plaguing the 802.11-based service space. As a means to accomplish these goals the alliance will actively solicit the involvement of end-user representatives and allow them to help the group to position the technology in ways they understand to ensure expected standards, once properly implemented, will actually achieve the desired objectives.
RemotePipes Also Brings IP Roamer(TM) Platform and Global Roaming Product Suite to the WGRA
Beyond thought leadership, RemotePipes also aims to bring a thriving market to the alliance as it matures. Utilizing the RemotePipes Global Roaming Product Suite and the IP Roamer product platform, a service provider
member can elect to be integrated, based upon the standards chosen by the alliance, into one of the largest carrier neutral roaming solutions in existence. Once integrated, the provider will be able to offer a unified global WiMAX roaming solution, encompassing their own and other member networks, in addition to enabling access to leading global WiFi and dialup footprints. The aggregated networks will provide unprecedented worldwide
geographic coverage for travelers and nomadic users via multiple access methods and price points. The service provider will earn a wholesale connection fee whenever a user roams onto their WiMAX network, as well as
being paid a revenue share of worldwide usage for customers signed up on a co-branded basis for the IP Roamer branded service. The WISP therefore has the opportunity to earn revenues at both the wholesale and retail levels of the global roaming supply chain because of the value added services brought to the table by RemotePipes.
RemotePipes has developed highly sophisticated and flexible back office systems that enable end users and WGRA network members to get real time access to a variety of information. The company provides everything necessary for providing a consistent and robust global roaming experience including a clearly defined clearinghouse framework; a downloadable smart client for managing WiFi, Dialup and future WiMAX connections; worldwide network access; and the aforementioned back office systems that enable 24/7/365 self-service
end-user signup, account provisioning, authentication, authorization, billing, reporting, and account management.
According to Michael Bavaro, President of DockPoint Internet, a large wireless broadband service provider in Raleigh, NC, RemotePipes is on the right track. "The team at RemotePipes is very forward thinking and we are
definitely going to be a part of their WiMAX global roaming alliance, both to help facilitate streamlined roaming as a WiMAX provider and to continue our relationship as a co-branded retailer of their IP Roamer services. This is an
exciting new market opportunity."
Stephen Gowdy, CEO and president of StoneBridge Wireless Broadband of Minneapolis, MN, added, "We are excited about the upcoming opportunities for 802.16e nomadic WiMAX, which will grow very quickly with the backing of Intel and other major players. As part of the WGRA we will enable alliance members to roam onto our local and regional facilities-based WiMAX networks while also offering global roaming to our customer base. As one of the earliest members of the WiMAX Forum and the WiMAX Global Roaming Alliance we are working
diligently to collaborate on interoperability standards as we build a strong foundation for the future."
About RemotePipes
RemotePipes, Inc. is a leading provider of worldwide mobile Internet access solutions for individuals and small and medium-sized businesses and organizations. The company offers wireless and wireline wholesale and retail
mobile Internet access solutions on a prepaid and post-paid basis via "800/8XX" toll free numbers, US local numbers, International local and 0800 toll free numbers (ITFS) and WiFi Hot Spots. The company provides the
services to leading Fortune 2000, Nasdaq, and NYSE-listed companies, via direct and channel sales partners including Cable MSO's and DSL broadband providers, ISP's, retailers, ILEC's, CLEC's, and affinity groups. RemotePipes is also the founding member of the WiMAX Global Roaming Alliance (WGRA).
To find out more information about the company email info@remotepipes.net ; or visit the RemotePipes websites at http://www.remotepipes.net , http://www.iproamer.com and http://www.wimaxgra.org . To reach RemotePipes, Inc. by telephone, call toll free at 888-281-6575.
SOURCE RemotePipes, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.remotepipes.net http://www.iproamer.com
http://www.wimaxgra.org
Source: PR Newswire
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