WiFi Metro To Become HotSpotzz

Nine months ago, WiFi Metro debuted as one of the largest WISPs in the U.S. providing hotspot access in more than 40 locations. Last week, IKANO picked up the cash poor upstart from beleaguered hereUare Communications.

by Eric Griffith 802.11-Planet.com Managing Editor [September 3, 2002]

In July, hereUare Communications put itself up for sale and said at the time that if it couldn't sell in two weeks, the company would "go away."

Over a month later, hereUare is still with us, though in a much smaller form. The company that once claimed it had 47 percent of the hotspot market in the U.S. is now down to a "much smaller crew" of employees according to Chief Executive Officer Clark Dong. In addition, hereUare has sold off the high profile WiFi Metro wireless Internet service provider to Utah-based IKANO Communications.

IKANO, which means "to enable" in Greek, provides private label Internet and IP services—for example, the company is the enabler behind the ISP for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Its headquarters is in Salt Lake City, but the company has offices in Cincinnati, Toronto, and San Francisco (where WiFi Metro was established).

WiFi Metro had 40 public access points in San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago and was known for areas called "hotzones" that would blanket entire city neighborhoods with an 802.11-based 'cloud' for public access. These areas will be re-launched under IKANO's Hotspotzz brand. The company currently has 149 Hotspotzz locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Seattle, and Boston. IKANO was behind the first wireless network deployment in Salt Lake City and Park City, and developed the wireless networks used in some areas at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

hereUare was unable to raise money to keep going in the current economy and thus put its holdings up for sale.

"In this market, the businesses that can survive are those that have existing revenue," says Dong.

IKANO is profitable, and is a "multi-million dollar" company according to the company's website. IKANO has over 300 employees and 200 branded Internet partners.

Dong says that hereUare will continue to license its technology to enable other network providers, but it is far from the hey day of a few short months ago.

— End