EarthLink is playing into the mobile nature of its multi-site business customers with its Secure Wi-Fi service that it is coupling with its wireline-based MPLS network.
Featuring Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), the new service is best suited for multi-unit retailers, restaurants, healthcare and financial service providers, the company said. The WIPS element will also come in handy as more employees use their own devices to access internal data.
Customers can use the new service to deploy and manage secure private and public wireless networks, connect with customers through their mobile devices and social media and gather data for visitor analytics.
To deliver the service, EarthLink has partnered with Wi-Fi solution provider AirTight Networks.
Providing a soup-to-nuts Wi-Fi offering that is managed by the service provider is another way to enhance the bond it has with both existing customers that already have their wireline services or newer customers that are looking to be more productive but don't have the IT staff to roll out Wi-Fi in their facilities.
Business services continue to be a bigger factor in EarthLink's overall revenue portfolio. Although overall fourth-quarter 2013 business revenues declined 7 percent, the service provider said that retail emerging product revenues from MPLS, hosted VoIP and cloud products grew 29 percent year-over-year to $46 million.
For more:
- see the release
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