DALLAS and BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 14, 2003 — Kinko’s, Inc. and T-Mobile, USA Inc. today announced an agreement that will give Kinko’s® customers Wi-Fi (802.11b) high-speed wireless broadband Internet access through the T-Mobile HotSpotSM service. More than 1,000 Kinko’s locations nationwide plan to offer the T-Mobile HotSpot service, with rollout starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
Currently available in more than 2,300 convenient brand-name locations across the country, the T-Mobile HotSpot service provides customers with wireless broadband connectivity to the Internet and corporate intranets via Wi-Fi enabled laptops and PDAs.
Through the agreement, Kinko’s and T-Mobile will add a service that caters to the needs of one of Kinko’s core customers – mobile professionals. These customers regularly turn to the Kinko’s network of digitally connected locations for their presentation needs and a variety of other services.
The installation of T-Mobile HotSpots – which keeps customers connected while outside the home or office – will enable Kinko’s to increasingly be more convenient for its customers. Kinko’s customers will soon be able to easily connect to the T-Mobile HotSpot service to access their corporate e-mail and mission-critical data, as well as have their documents and presentations printed and prepared for them when and where they need them.
“Kinko’s is known for making technology fast, easy and accessible – Our customers count on it. T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi leadership makes them the perfect match as we expand into a new area to meet customer needs,” said Dan Connors, senior vice president of corporate strategy for Kinko’s. “Thanks to the addition of T-Mobile HotSpot service at Kinko’s locations nationwide, Kinko’s will soon offer a new way for our customers to tap into the power of our own network of locations, experts and business services. Availability of T-Mobile HotSpots at Kinko’s will make it easy for mobile professionals to access their corporate network, check their e-mail and even wirelessly print documents from anywhere inside our stores.”
“The addition of Kinko’s to T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi network represents a landmark achievement for T-Mobile and for our industry,” said Joe Sims, vice president and general manager of T-Mobile HotSpot. “With the addition of Kinko’s, T-Mobile HotSpot service expands to yet another convenient location where mobile professionals already are and want to be. This agreement with Kinko’s represents a critical element in building our T-Mobile HotSpot foundation and in preparing T-Mobile HotSpot for future success and industry leadership.”
About T-Mobile, USA
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA operates the largest GSM/GPRS voice and high-speed wireless data network in the United States, reaching 218 million people. In addition, T-Mobile operates the largest commercial Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless broadband (WLAN) network available in more than 2,300 public access locations including Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books and Music, airports and American Airlines Admirals Clubs. In the coming year, more than 100 airport clubs including United and Delta will be added.
T-Mobile is a member of T-Mobile International group, the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT). Through its GET MORE® promise, T-Mobile is committed to providing the best overall value in wireless communications with more minutes, features and service than any other carrier. For more information, go to http://www.t-mobile.com .
###
|
