|
NEWS May 29, 2008 |
Contact: Julie
Murphy (781) 639-4924 |
Free
Wi-Fi Now Available At
Mineta San José International Airport
Only
Bay Area airport providing free wireless Internet to public
New service offers 24-hour support and security
SAN JOSÉ, CA – You asked for it, you’ve got it.
Tomorrow [Friday, May 30] Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) will launch the first free full-service wireless Internet service in any Bay Area commercial airport, complete with 24-hour customer support and a free “virtual private network” security application that encrypts otherwise open Wi-Fi network connections.
“Our primary goal is to make San José the airport of choice for Silicon Valley business travelers with services that help them be more productive, and free Wi-Fi is another step we’re taking” said Bill Sherry, SJC director of aviation.
“At the same time, we’re optimistic this service will create a new revenue stream through advertising or sponsorships that will contribute to the airport’s financial strength.”
Free wireless Internet in San José now is available in all public areas of both Terminal A and Terminal C, with the exception of the Terminal A baggage claim area. As the airport completes its comprehensive construction program to replace and renovate its terminals, free Wi Fi also will be included in the new Terminal B and North Concourse when placed in service.
Commercial wireless Internet service currently provided by T-Mobile and Wayport will continue to remain available to their subscribers at the airport.
In a partnership with Clear Channel Airports and its partner Airport Marketing Income (www.airport-marketing.com), SJC’s full-service Free Wi-Fi is designed to enhance the passenger experience beyond conventional free Wi-Fi offerings.
The model offers 24-hour toll-free customer support for assistance in wireless access and usage, and it allows customers to avoid the potential security concerns of wireless access by activating Hotspot Shield, a free security application from AnchorFree that establishes a virtual private network (VPN) to keep Wi-Fi secure and anonymous for users.
The airport expects the costs of SJC Free Wi-Fi will be offset with revenue generated through its advertising concession agreement with Clear Channel that the San José City Council approved in May 2007.
“The
potential revenue opportunities for Wi-Fi are promising, which will help
us keep our airport very competitive in the Bay Area for our passengers
and our airlines,” said Sherry.
“AMI has ‘cracked the code’ for free Wi-Fi that doesn’t
disappoint, giving consumers an enhanced airport experience,” said
Brad Jersey, president of AMI. “This groundbreaking model features
24-hour customer support and VPN security that no other U.S. airport is
offering.
“Equally important, the existing advertising model can be adapted to a sponsorship model that presents airports with a consistent revenue stream and advertisers with an opportunity to reach a highly targeted audience.”
AMI is partnering
with AnchorFree (www.anchorfree.com),
a Sunnyvale-based company that provides both the Hotspot Shield and a
Wi-Fi advertising network. AnchorFree will secure advertisers, whose ads
will appear in a one-inch “billboard” on the screen after
users have accepted terms of service and have been redirected to the airport’s
website.
To provide the value-added customer support, AMI also has partnered with
SR&J Customer Care (www.srjgroup.com)
to provide assistance to Wi-Fi users 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
About Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)
Mineta San José International Airport, a self-supporting enterprise, is owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 10.7 million passengers and handled approximately 209 million pounds of air cargo in 2007. SJC has 166 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations. For more airport information, visit www.sjc.org, or call Airport Customer Service at (408) 501-0979.
About Airport Marketing Income (AMI)
AMI is a pioneer in the field of airport-based marketing. The firm presents its clients with unique marketing and sponsorship opportunities, leveraging the realities of today’s air travel and the untapped potential of airport properties. AMI’s comprehensive approach to marketing in the airport environment brings together the country’s top port authorities with major consumer brands to create impactful multi-touch experiences that include the medium of sound, product sampling and innovative visuals. Clients include: Airborne, Bank of America, Dunkin’ Brands, Glad, Under Armour and Yahoo!. For more information on AMI, visit www.airport-marketing.com.
About AnchorFree
AnchorFree,
the largest Hotspot media network, is a new marketing channel for brand
and direct response marketers to deliver interactive, timely and targeted
advertisements to laptop and mobile device users when they are away from
the home or office. The AnchorFree network connects advertisers with millions
of consumers in a captive, persistent manner that is highly measurable
and geo-targeted to these users’ exact locations. AnchorFree is
also the first advertising network to offer consumers full control over
their privacy and security through the company's Hotspot Shield, a free
advertising-supported VPN client available for download at www.anchorfree.com.
AnchorFree is a privately held company based in Sunnyvale, California.
-SJC-
1732 N. First Street, Suite 600, San José, CA 95112-4538 24 Hour Media Line: 408.501.7700