SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vivato, a leading provider of wireless networking equipment, today announced a partnership with Airport Network Solutions (ANS), a subsidiary of ICOA, Inc. (OTCBB:ICOA), to deploy an airport-wide wireless network at Spokane International Airport (GEG). Vivato and ICOA partnered last year to create a ten-square mile Wi-Fi hot zone at the Newport, Rhode Island harbor and lower Narragansett Bay.
ANS, under contract with Spokane Airport, will be working with Vivato to create the infrastructure for ubiquitous wireless Internet service throughout the airport terminal building and the three concourses. The extensive network will be used for a variety of applications by travelers, airport administration and operations, and airport tenants, such as airlines and rental car companies. ANS currently manages Wi-Fi networks in Sacramento International Airport, Savannah/HiltonHead International Airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. ANS is a neutral-host Wi-Fi provider and deploys systems that are compatible with multiple Internet service subscription plans. ANS selected Vivato because one Vivato 2.4 GHz Switch provides 3-to-10 times the range of a standard access point, making deployment faster, network management easier and installation less expensive.
"Vivato easily met our requirements for the Spokane Airport for fast deployment with minimal disruption to the airport and maximum coverage and range," said Rick Schiffmann, CEO of Airport Network Solutions. "We are very excited about working with Vivato to expand the Wi-Fi footprint at airports with cutting edge technology."
Vivato's 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Switch is designed to extend the reach of Wi-Fi through its unique PacketSteering(tm) technology that directs Wi-Fi capacity to standard 802.11b clients through an electronically-controlled, phased array antenna, enabling unprecedented coverage. This unique architecture allows Vivato's switches to transmit high-gain wireless beams over a distance of 2.5 miles outdoors with direct line of sight, and shorter distances without direct line of sight.
"We are very pleased to work with our partner Airport Network Solutions to create a hot zone at Spokane Airport," said Don Stalter, CEO of Vivato. "Vivato is specifically designed to address the special requirements of environments with large coverage areas, such as airports, seaports, cities and towns. We look forward to working with Airport Network Solutions and ICOA on more projects in the future."
About Vivato
Vivato is a provider of networking equipment for complete wireless broadband solutions. Vivato's technology is based upon an innovative signal processing and antenna design. Vivato's unique system architecture enables cost-effective, large-scale indoor and outdoor wireless deployments at hotels, airports, seaports, warehouses, universities, and in cities and towns. Vivato is headquartered in San Francisco, with a research and development center in Spokane, Wash. For more information, please visit www.vivato.net or call 415.495.1111.
About ICOA and ANS
ICOA, Inc., www.icoacorp.com, (OTCBB:ICOA) located in Warwick, RI, is a provider of Public Broadband Internet Access. Its subsidiary, ANS, partners with airports to design, install, operate, maintain, and manage a single, neutral, common-use 802.11x standard WLAN (or WiFi) infrastructure throughout their facility. Airlines, the traveling public and all other constitue ncies within the airport community are then able to use this secure and efficient wireless infrastructure. ICOA operates private networks of high-speed Internet Terminals (WebCenter3000TM), as well as WiFi Hot Spots, in more than 250 sites nationwide including the most sought after public locations - airports, hotels, marinas, transportation hubs and conference centers. The Company provides fully managed Broadband Internet Access and Services including: email, e-fax and telephony; business services including printing; e-commerce; and 'venue specific' advertising. ICOA currently operates or manages installations at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana Airport (BTR), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Rhode Island's Newport Harbor 'Hot Zone', several prestigious Hotels and 175+ Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA - www.panerabread.com) locations.