Three 'Hot Cities' Complete Metro Wi-Fi Networks in New Mexico and Michigan to Provide New Community Services

RIO RANCHO, N.M., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Ushering in a new generation of wireless public and government services, this city on the bank of the Rio Grande today completed one of the nation's largest municipal Wi-Fi networks. Built for Rio Rancho by wireless services firm Azulstar Networks, the metro network provides "laptop ready" mobile Wi-Fi access across more than 40 square miles and is already delivering never-before-available services to businesses, city agencies and some 70,000 residents.

Azulstar Networks also announced it has completed two more "hot cities" in Michigan. Ferrysburg and Spring Lake have now joined Grand Haven in a tri- city metro Wi-Fi network that spans all three cities end to end.

According to City of Rio Rancho Mayor Jim Owen, "This is a proud moment for our city as we officially 'cut the cord' and become a Digital Community. We are the City of Vision and metro Wi-Fi is clearly the future. The benefits touch virtually every corner of our community, from the schools system to the transportation network, and mobile first responders. Everyone benefits."

Paul Butcher, Intel marketing manager for state and local government, added, "Wireless broadband affords an array of valuable new services that dramatically enhance government capabilities as well as quality of life for all. Intel applauds Rio Rancho for becoming a Digital Community, including deployment of valuable tools for government, business and citizens, to enhance efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide."

Thousands of residents, businesses and government agencies throughout these hot cities are enjoying the benefits of metro Wi-Fi Internet.

  -- Rio Rancho, N.M., is one of the world's largest metro Wi-Fi networks
     and the first to provide quality of service, enabling a fully converged
     voice/data/video Wi-Fi network.  The system uses more than 400 Wi-Fi
     and pre-WiMAX radios to provide laptop-ready Wi-Fi access over the more
     than 40 square mile populated region of the city.

     During an event hosted by Intel Corp. this week, New Mexico Governor
     Bill Richardson congratulated Azulstar for this landmark network, which
     brings many new broadband-based services to the city. Mayor Owen will
     lead the official cord-cutting ceremony tonight during the city council
     meeting.

     Rio Rancho has begun to use the network for education, homeland
     security, and is phasing in connections for traffic, libraries, first
     responders and city worker mobile access.

        - The public school system launched a Cyber Learning Academy that
          enables county-wide distance learning with virtual classrooms for
          high school and middle school students.  The Cyber Academy uses
          the metro Wi-Fi network exclusively for its voice, data and video
          needs.

        - The New Mexico Department of Transportation is piloting a traffic
          monitoring and control system that connects traffic signals and
          video cameras using the Azulstar metro Wi-Fi network.  The Rio
          Rancho network is being used to pilot a variety of Wi-Fi based
          intelligent transportation services.

  -- Ferrysburg and Spring Lake, Mich., have now joined Grand Haven in a
     continued build-out of the nation's first metro Wi-Fi network. The
     tri-city network links city operations, hospital buildings as well as
     thousands of residents, businesses and visitors. The city has realized
     significant cost savings by using the metro network instead of fiber to
     link city buildings.  The city is also testing wireless cameras for
     public safety along the city beach and pier.


  Azulstar Hot City in a Box

To help governments and companies rapidly deploy metro Wi-Fi networks and services, Azulstar Networks today announced the Azulstar Hot City in a Box. This all-in-one solution includes everything required to provide municipalities with a fully operational metro Wi-Fi network and suite of services. The solution enables cities to immediately capture revenues and cost savings while enhancing city services. The highly secure, scalable and interoperable wireless IP network is supported by the industry's leading Wi-Fi and WiMAX firms, including Intel, Alvarion, Proxim, LogiSense, Tropos, and Meru Networks.

"As forward-thinking communities prove the value of metro Wi-Fi, 2006 promises to be the year of the Hot City as more and more towns embrace wireless," said Tyler van Houwelingen, CEO of Azulstar Networks, which has deployed four of the nation's first five fully operational metro Wi-Fi networks. "Metro Wi-Fi is quickly being recognized as the most cost effective way to connect city agencies and infrastructure as well as bring the Internet to everyone.

"We want to provide cities with a quick, assured path to metro Wi-Fi that leverages our experience, successes and deep industry relationships," van Houwelingen added. "Our Hot City in a Box solution can be deployed successfully and profitably no matter what the terrain, climate, or budget. By including a suite of ready-made metro services, it really is an end-to-end solution."

About Azulstar

Azulstar Inc., based in Grand Haven, Mich., was formed to enable the rapid rollout of mobile Wi-Fi/WiMAX networks and services throughout the world and is recognized as the leader in metro Wi-Fi. Azulstar leverages a proprietary combination of licensed and unlicensed wireless technologies to serve the needs of an entire community. Azulstar teams with governmental agencies, leading companies and investors to quickly offer digital community networks and services, including mobile voice, data, video, public safety and smart transportation.

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