Release date:
Saturday, December 18, 1999
Ottawa, Canada December 15, 1999 Nokia today announced the installation and availability of its high-speed wireless networking solution throughout the Ottawa International Airport, providing business executives with mobile access to the Internet, their corporate networks, and other resources while they're traveling. The Ottawa International Airport is the first Canadian airport to offer this ultimate mobility solution to its business travelers, allowing them to wirelessly access the Internet at broadband speeds of more than 50 times faster than normal dial-up connections. Nokia will also introduce its wireless Internet solution to other airports and additional high-traffic business locations worldwide in 2000.
The Nokia solution means that business travelers no longer have to worry about finding a phone equipped for computer access or other wired Internet access points within airports. With the Nokia solution business travelers can wirelessly access information and resources most important to them from virtually anywhere in the airport, whether in the departures lounge, in the arrivals area, or sitting at a café table. Sky.Link Internet Plus, an Ottawa-based pay-per-use Internet access company, will be providing high-speed Internet access and billing services to customers at the Ottawa International Airport. Information on Sky.Link services can be found at www.skylink.ca.
"Today's mobile professionals increasingly spend more and more time away from their desks, both in and out of the office. In parallel, the "net" has become the defacto repository for all types of information. These two factors have created a demand for secure, reliable access to information while on the move," said Pekka Lundmark, Senior Vice President, Nokia Internet Communications. "At Nokia, we're committed to delivering innovative technology to mobile users around the world and making the job of connecting people and information effortless and instantaneous. Unwiring Ottawa Airport is just the first step in a series of roll-outs to provide traveling professionals with high-speed access when and where they need it."
In addition to its plans to deliver mobility solutions to other airports in 2000, Nokia plans for wireless Internet access to be widely available to business travelers in hotels, convention centers, and other public areas in which mobile professionals gather next year.
"The selection of Ottawa Airport by Nokia for the launch of its wireless access solution is a tribute to our high-technology industry and booming economy. With this first-in-Canada service, we have created the most technologically friendly International airport in Canada," added Paul Benoit, President of Ottawa International Airport.
Nearly 80 percent of our customers are business people on the go. It is fitting that Nokia offer these busy travelers access to the most convenient Gateway to the Web in Canada, right here in the Gateway to Canada's Capital," concluded Mr. Benoit.
Beginning immediately, executives who travel through Ottawa airport will be able to access information throughout the airport with the use of the Nokia wireless local area network (LAN) card. With the wireless LAN card, which is a standard credit card-size device, inserted into the laptop computer, in combination with the Nokia mobility management infrastructure, users can wirelessly connect to the Internet and their corporate networks.
"The advancement of our services to include Nokia wireless technologies offers an exciting new level of support to our corporate and private customers," says Neil Pritchard, CEO of Sky.Link Internet Plus. "With the many new locations Sky.Link are targeting for the coming months, we see this service as the future for public Internet access."
Kiosks providing information about Nokia wireless public access zone solution, including wireless LAN cards and Sky.Link services, are available throughout Ottawa airport beginning Dec 15, 1999. Information on Nokia products and solutions may also be found on the company's Web site at www.nokia.com.
About Sky.Link
Sky.Link Internet Access was founded in March 1996 as Canada's first public Internet kiosk provider with the first location opened at Ottawa International Airport. Sky.Link Internet kiosks provide high- speed access to the Internet, including E-mail, World Wide Web, Newsgroups, and Telnet. The Web-based system features a multitude of payment and billing options including major credit cards and corporate account tracking and billing. Sky.Link Internet Access has since expanded into the hotel industry in Canada and the United States. The company's head office is in Ottawa, Canada. Sky.Link is an associate member of the Canadian Franchise Association.
Ottawa International Airport
The independent Ottawa Airport Authority officially assumed operation and control of Ottawa International Airport on February 1, 1997. The Authority's mission is to contribute to the economic growth of the community by providing passengers high-quality modern airport facilities that meet appropriate travelling needs. The not-for-profit Authority also operates these facilities in a safe and secure manner and manages them on a financially viable basis.
About Nokia
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53,000 people.
The Nokia solution means that business travelers no longer have to worry about finding a phone equipped for computer access or other wired Internet access points within airports. With the Nokia solution business travelers can wirelessly access information and resources most important to them from virtually anywhere in the airport, whether in the departures lounge, in the arrivals area, or sitting at a café table. Sky.Link Internet Plus, an Ottawa-based pay-per-use Internet access company, will be providing high-speed Internet access and billing services to customers at the Ottawa International Airport. Information on Sky.Link services can be found at www.skylink.ca.
"Today's mobile professionals increasingly spend more and more time away from their desks, both in and out of the office. In parallel, the "net" has become the defacto repository for all types of information. These two factors have created a demand for secure, reliable access to information while on the move," said Pekka Lundmark, Senior Vice President, Nokia Internet Communications. "At Nokia, we're committed to delivering innovative technology to mobile users around the world and making the job of connecting people and information effortless and instantaneous. Unwiring Ottawa Airport is just the first step in a series of roll-outs to provide traveling professionals with high-speed access when and where they need it."
In addition to its plans to deliver mobility solutions to other airports in 2000, Nokia plans for wireless Internet access to be widely available to business travelers in hotels, convention centers, and other public areas in which mobile professionals gather next year.
"The selection of Ottawa Airport by Nokia for the launch of its wireless access solution is a tribute to our high-technology industry and booming economy. With this first-in-Canada service, we have created the most technologically friendly International airport in Canada," added Paul Benoit, President of Ottawa International Airport.
Nearly 80 percent of our customers are business people on the go. It is fitting that Nokia offer these busy travelers access to the most convenient Gateway to the Web in Canada, right here in the Gateway to Canada's Capital," concluded Mr. Benoit.
Beginning immediately, executives who travel through Ottawa airport will be able to access information throughout the airport with the use of the Nokia wireless local area network (LAN) card. With the wireless LAN card, which is a standard credit card-size device, inserted into the laptop computer, in combination with the Nokia mobility management infrastructure, users can wirelessly connect to the Internet and their corporate networks.
"The advancement of our services to include Nokia wireless technologies offers an exciting new level of support to our corporate and private customers," says Neil Pritchard, CEO of Sky.Link Internet Plus. "With the many new locations Sky.Link are targeting for the coming months, we see this service as the future for public Internet access."
Kiosks providing information about Nokia wireless public access zone solution, including wireless LAN cards and Sky.Link services, are available throughout Ottawa airport beginning Dec 15, 1999. Information on Nokia products and solutions may also be found on the company's Web site at www.nokia.com.
About Sky.Link
Sky.Link Internet Access was founded in March 1996 as Canada's first public Internet kiosk provider with the first location opened at Ottawa International Airport. Sky.Link Internet kiosks provide high- speed access to the Internet, including E-mail, World Wide Web, Newsgroups, and Telnet. The Web-based system features a multitude of payment and billing options including major credit cards and corporate account tracking and billing. Sky.Link Internet Access has since expanded into the hotel industry in Canada and the United States. The company's head office is in Ottawa, Canada. Sky.Link is an associate member of the Canadian Franchise Association.
Ottawa International Airport
The independent Ottawa Airport Authority officially assumed operation and control of Ottawa International Airport on February 1, 1997. The Authority's mission is to contribute to the economic growth of the community by providing passengers high-quality modern airport facilities that meet appropriate travelling needs. The not-for-profit Authority also operates these facilities in a safe and secure manner and manages them on a financially viable basis.
About Nokia
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53,000 people.
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For more information:
Laurie Armstrong
Public Relations Manager
Nokia Internet Communications
Kanata, Ontario
Tel: (613) 271-6756
E-mail: [email protected]
Deborah Mullan
Vice President Group Manager
Ketchum Thomas for Nokia
Redwood City, CA
Tel: (650) 596-2700 office
(925) 519-2793 mobile
E-mail: [email protected]