This week at CTIA, Pronto launched in conjunction with Sun Microsystems the iForce Wi-Fi Hotspot Appliance, which is an end-to-end solution to create public hotspots. Also at CTIA, Pronto announced a partnership with wireless clearinghouse leader Syniverse whereby Pronto will integrate its Wi-Fi service delivery platform with Syniverse's clearinghouse.
The iForce Wi-Fi Hotspot Appliance was designed to enable operators to quickly and cost-effectively rollout a medium-sized public hotspot network licensed for 25, 50 or 100 hotspots and realize rapid ROI. The appliance provides remote provisioning of hotspot controllers, authentication, access control, splash page customization, walled garden support, prepaid and post-paid billing, quality of service controls, remote network management, trouble ticketing and customer care, and roaming settlement with major aggregators. The appliance also comes with Web-based administration for rapid installation at an operator's network operations center.
"The iForce Wi-Fi Hotspot appliance is designed to meet the needs of mid-tier operators that are looking for an easy-to-use, easy-to-deploy solution that will enable them to capitalize on the rapid growth in the public hotspot market," says Stuart Wells, senior vice president of the Market Development Organization at Sun Microsystems. "The integrated Wi-Fi hotspot appliance based on Pronto's carrier-grade, robust Wi-Fi service delivery platform and components of the Sun Java System software and Sun Fire servers is an out-of-the-box, highly reliable solution that is ready to deploy."
Pronto’s deal with Syniverse, meanwhile, allows the companies to offer a solution to facilitate bi-lateral Wi-Fi roaming with both domestic and international roaming partners.
Syniverse will act as a central point of connection to manage the routing and security for AAA messaging between Pronto's service provider customers and their roaming partners. Additionally, Syniverse will provide wholesale rating, clearing and settlement, as well ACCESSibility customizable online financial and detailed usage reports.
