New Etisalat deal with iPass

Etisalat Group, the telecommunications corporation with operations in 16 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS), the global Wi-Fi roaming leader for enterprises and telecom service providers, announced on Monday that they have signed a Group-wide agreement to provide a global Wi-Fi data roaming service to customers. The agreement, which supplements existing mobile data roaming services, will allow Etisalat to offer their customers travelling abroad the option to use their smartphones and tablets to get connected at over a million Wi-Fi hotspots in the global iPass network at more affordable rates. Initially the application will work for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Essa Al Haddad, Chief Commercial Officer - Etisalat Group, said: "Etisalat is one of the global telecommunication industry's innovation pacesetters. I am pleased we can increasingly use our Group-wide strength to give our partner Operators access to new services demanded by customers. By joining the iPass Open Mobile Exchange, Etisalat will enable our customers to move around the world, with a new cost-effective way of staying in touch with their businesses, family and friends. " Steve Livingston, iPass senior vice president of carrier development, said: "As one of the Middle East's largest telecom operators, Etisalat continues to lead in innovation and the company's technological expertise has helped it capture significant subscriber market share across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The iPass Open Mobile Exchange allows Etisalat to bring a global Wi-Fi roaming solution into their product portfolio supported by the world's largest Wi-Fi network that could alter the way their consumers roam abroad in the future." "International Wi-Fi roaming is an ideal complementary service to existing 3G and 4G roaming plans especially as a recent report indicated that 63 percent of mobile users would prefer a telecom operator that offers a global Wi-Fi roaming service," said Christian Gabetta, European and Middle Eastern vice president of carrier development.