“We believe that traditional hotspot operators can substantially increase their revenue and network usage by adding a free component to their network”, stated Daniel C. Toomey, Jr. free-hotspot.com’s Chief Executive Officer. “If it is done correctly, an entry level free service can actually increase usage on a paid network without poaching existing subscription revenues.”

The company’s revolutionary advertising formats allow viewers to receive free wireless Internet access by agreeing to view ads from selected sponsors. These rich media “Intromercials” are provided at the onset of the viewer’s online experience. As a result, viewers are not forced to endure excessive or highly invasive advertising while advertisers reach an audience that is truly focused on their message and develop a positive brand association.

“We believe that the majority of hotspots will move to offer both free and paid access as the market matures”, said Joe Brunoli, Vice President of HotSpot Market Development for free-hotspot.com. “We hope to accelerate this trend by making advertising-supported access viable for other networks”, he added.

free-hotspot.com offers integrated marketing programmes that make the media planning and buying experience unique, efficient and profitable. Advertising can be targeted by country, region, city, or even a single location with 100% accuracy. This granular targeting capability ensures each campaign reaches its intended audience, providing a maximum return on investment. The company’s advertising formats deliver engagement times that are three times higher than the industry norm and user interaction rates that are eight times higher than market averages. This in turn allows free-hotspot.com to provide highly effective, highly successful advertising campaigns to premier advertisers such as Ford, Sony and Citroen, as well as to local and regional advertisers throughout Europe.

Hotspot networks and operators interested in learning more about this unique opportunity are encouraged to contact free-hotspot.com’s Market Development Group at +353 1 613 9155.

About free-hotspot.com:

free-hotspot.com operates Europe’s largest and fastest growing free wireless network. The company currently operates more than 400 free HotSpots in 12 countries throughout Europe. Its HotSpots are located in cafés, hotels, pubs, restaurants, retail centres, transit centres and other public venues. To gain access to the company’s free wireless Internet service, users agree to watch an advertisement. For this innovation, free-hotspot.com received the prestigious WBI (Wireless Broadband Innovation) Award for Best Public Wi-Fi Product 2006.

free-hotspot.com supports an active user community and helps more than 30,000 people each month locate free hotspots. The company operates the industry’s most comprehensive directory of free HotSpots which currently lists more than 10,000 free wireless internet locations worldwide.

To learn more about the free HotSpot programme or to find the free HotSpot nearest you, please visit: www.free-hotspot.com.

Press contacts:
Emma Keenan / Johanna Toiviainen
Open2Europe
Phone: +33 1 55 02 14 59 / 58
e-mail: e.keenan@open2europe.com / j.toiviainen@open2europe.com