GSM to WLAN Roaming - Billing Solution Launched

Wireless LAN-to-GSM service integrator, TOGEWAnet, has announced the commercial release of its WeRoam service. WeRoam provides a service bureau and aggregation service for Wireless ISPs and Mobile Operators wishing to enter the WLAN market. WeRoam builds on its association with Comfone GSM SS7, billing and clearing service, to enable a similar range of services in the WLAN market. Through WeRoam, WISPs may gain connectivity with the networks of Mobile Operators, and vice versa, so that a common roaming platform is created with an extensive worldwide footprint. This is done with minimal up front cost and maximum use of existing network resources.

The end-user experience is akin to using a mobile phone -- whichever network he or she is on, the laptop or PDA will authenticate with the "home" network, and create a billing record in the home network. The user does not have to intervene with username, password, or any other such complication. The use of a SIM card gives the operator the proven security of GSM phones and enables WLAN users to be provisioned and managed in the same way as mobile phone users. The system also supports users who do not have a SIM card or cellular account by interconnecting with existing RADIUS based billing and authentication systems. In this case, the benefits of cellular to WLAN integration are reduced but existing subscribers and "walk-in" customers may still use the hotspots.

According to TOGEWAnet CEO Toni Stadelmann, "Our close technical collaboration with Transat has enabled us to be first to market with a GSM to Wireless LAN clearing service. The final acceptance testing of Transat's system is a major milestone and marks the transition of WeRoam from field trial to commercial service."

John Baker, CEO of Transat Technologies says, "The development of TOGEWAnet's WeRoam service has been a major proving ground for Transat. We have been working on this technology for three years, and with TOGEWAnet for twelve months and it is exciting to see that early vision become a commercial reality. We are delighted that TOGEWAnet shared our vision and agree that this has been a very successful collaboration."

Posted to the site on 14th November 2002