Microsoft Partners With T-Mobile HotSpot, Boingo Wireless and Wayport To Promote Wi-Fi Access for Windows Mobile Customers

REDMOND, Wash., June 23, 2003 — Today, Microsoft Corp. announced it is teaming up with the leading high-speed wireless service provider T-Mobile HotSpot as well as BoingoWireless Inc. and Wayport Inc., to make it easier for U.S. customers to find, access and use Wi-Fi network discovery configuration capabilities. The announcement comes on the same day that Microsoft made its Windows Mobile (TM) 2003 software for Pocket PCs, which features these capabilities, available to consumers.

As part of the promotion, customers who purchase a new Wi-Fi–enabled Pocket PC with Windows Mobile can sign up for 30 days’ free Wi-Fi access with new qualifying subscriptions from any of the participating providers. T-Mobile Hotspot makes up the nation’s largest commercial Wi-Fi network, which includes more than 120 airline clubs, numerous airports, Borders Books & Music and Starbucks coffeehouses — and more than 1,000 Kinko’s locations are soon to be added. Boingo’s 1,300 hot spot locations cover 300 cities in 43 states, and Wayport’s high-speed wireless service can be found at more than 525 hotels, including Hilton and Marriott.

Focused on keeping people in touch, entertained and in step with information, this latest version of Windows Mobile automatically detects and easily connects to Wi-Fi networks. Beginning today, customers can choose from a variety of new Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC devices from both new and existing device manufacturers.

“Wireless access increases the utility and productivity capabilities of mobile devices,” said Juha Christensen, corporate vice president of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft. “Microsofts Windows Mobile software makes it easy for customers to connect to Wi-Fi networks, and this promotion makes it easy for them to try the service and realize the benefits of wireless computing.”

Wi-Fi, a popular standard for wireless local area networks (LANs), is rapidly becoming a preferred standard for accessing high-speed Internet connections without wires. Combined, T-Mobile, Boingo and Wayport coverage provides more than 3,500 hot spots, or public locations with access to Wi-Fi, throughout the nation. This promotion enables the service providers to reach new Windows Mobile customers.

“T-Mobile’s customers enjoy the convenience and accessibility of the nation’s largest commercial public Wi-Fi network,”
said Joe Sims, vice president and general manager of T-Mobile HotSpot.
“We are pleased to enhance our customer’s experience by integrating with Microsoft’s powerful and familiar Windows Mobile software.”

“We are pleased to partner with Microsoft to make it easy for Windows Mobile customers to experience Wi-Fi computing on a Pocket PC,”
said Dave Hagan, president of Boingo Wireless.
“Now Windows Mobile customers can test-drive the public Wi-Fi experience with a Pocket Boingo version designed to take advantage of Windows Mobile 2003 advancements, and business travelers can seamlessly get connected to 1,500 hot spots in airports, hotels and cafes around the world, helping them stay connected and in touch while away from home or the office.”

“By increasing awareness and availability of high-speed wired and wireless Internet access for travelers, Wayport, along with Microsoft, is raising the industry bar on convenient high-speed Internet connectivity,”
said Dan Lowden, vice president of marketing for Wayport.
“With this promotion, we hope to continue to expose customers to the amazing potential of wireless computing on our extensive nationwide network that consists of locations where people need the service most: in hotels and airports.”

The promotion is available between June 23 and Aug. 23.More information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/wifi/ .

About Windows Mobile-Based Pocket PCs

Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs, the next-generation personal digital assistants (PDAs) from Microsoft and industry partners, offer customers the best way to connect to their most essential information while away from their desk, yet are versatile enough to satisfy the personal needs of today’s busy mobile consumer. Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs already include a broad range of native business, personal productivity and entertainment applications, yet can easily be expanded to adapt to each customer’s changing needs through a continually growing number of industry-standard hardware and software options. More information about the new lineup of Pocket PCs with Windows Mobile software is available at the Windows Mobile 2003 Software For Pocket PCs Virtual Pressroom .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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