iPass Inc announced it is working with Lucent Technologies and several industry-leading companies to deliver solutions that will make it easier for mobile operators to provide enterprise customers with secure and easy-to-use high-speed wireless access to business-critical applications from any location.

Together with iPass, these companies will work jointly to develop, market and sell Lucent's Secure Mobile Data Solutions for Enterprises portfolio. Other partners contributing to Lucent's portfolio include Agere Systems (ORiNOCO(R) Wireless Networks), HP, ipUnplugged and Sierra Wireless. These solutions will allow enterprise customers to securely access applications located behind corporate firewalls, such as e-mail, corporate databases and internal Web applications, via third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 and UMTS wireless networks and wireless local area networks (LANs) in their enterprise locations and public "hotspots."

This initiative will take advantage of iPass' dedication to meeting enterprise IT security and policy management requirements to help expedite enterprise adoption of emerging 3G mobile data services; and drive users and revenues to mobile operators' networks. Leveraging iPass' large installed base of enterprise users, mobile operators can attract a significant enterprise end-user population to their networks.

Because iPass also manages an industry-leading network clearinghouse back-end, the mobile operator has the flexibility to initiate its own bilateral roaming agreements with third-party network service providers. Through its clearinghouse, iPass handles cross-network authentication to enable roaming between networks, the ability to rate networks and transaction settlement. The iPass offering is ideal for any mobile operator wishing to build a global footprint and extend existing infrastructure to multiple connectivity technologies.

iPass can enable mobile operators to leverage iPass' numerous domestic and international hotspots by serving as an aggregator that purchases Wi-Fi (802.11) hotspot and 3G network capacity from service providers, and resells it to the enterprise user. Hotspot networks are tested by iPass to interoperate with enterprise-mandated security and policy management systems -- such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and personal firewalls -- before being integrated into the iPass service offering. Access to these iPass hotspot venues allows mobile operators to offer their end-users the ability to easily roam between the operators' own 3G network and secure Wi-Fi hotspot venues such as airports, hotels and convention centers across the globe. In addition to the Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile operators also can leverage the entire iPass global network of secure narrow and broadband, wired and wireless connectivity as an offering to their own end-users.
"iPass has long recognized the value of the massive investment in mobile data technologies such as 3G networks," said Anurag Lal, vice president of business development at iPass. "We believe mobile operators will find significant return on investment by complementing their CDMA and UMTS-based offerings with iPass' secure global wireless and wired access network. By partnering with Lucent and other industry leaders, iPass can greatly enhance the work we've already been doing with mobile operators around the globe, as we move towards our goal of integrating 3G mobile data services into a comprehensive connectivity services portfolio that benefits both the service provider and enterprise."

"iPass brings its extensive experience in developing and marketing secure solutions for enterprise customers, and will have a large impact on pulling through sales of wireless service provider offerings," said John Marinho, vice president of offer management for Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group. "The iPass clearinghouse and settlement expertise is a key component of our portfolio and effort to deliver secure and easy-to-use high-speed mobile data services to enterprises."