WiFi giants roam worldwide

BT Openzone and T-Mobile sign worldwide WiFi roaming agreement

WiFi hotspot providers BT Openzone and T-Mobile have signed a customer roaming agreement aimed at easing use of wireless internet access in public places.

The deal that stretches across Europe and the USA allows customers of both service providers to roam across more than 10,000 WiFi hotspots worldwide, when connecting to the internet from a wireless laptop or PDA.

While both telecoms firms have been vying for leadership in the WiFi market, analysts advised that roaming agreements - similar to those in the mobile phone market - were needed to ensure geographic coverage and reduce multiple billing agreements.

Customers with wireless devices will now be able to access a greater range of hotspots, at locations including Starbucks, British Airways, Texaco, McDonald's and Sheraton, Hilton and Ramada Jarvis hotels.

T-Mobile and BT Openzone customers can access both WiFi networks in the UK, with BT users also able to access T-Mobile HotSpot in Germany, Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and the USA.

'It is essential for the on-going success of WiFi that companies work together,' said BT Wireless Broadband chief executive Chris Clark. 'This co-operation will broaden the appeal of WiFi.'

Brian McBride, managing director of T-Mobile UK, added: 'Our partnership with BT is another step towards providing our customers simple and convenient access to the internet while on the move.'

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