From office to airport, to hotel, stay Connected, wherever you are

Issued by Stone Soup for Internet Solutions
Johannesburg, 30 Mar 2005

Local business travellers can now seamlessly move from their offices, to the airport, to their hotel - all while staying in e-mail contact with their work colleagues and loved ones. In addition, you won`t have to worry about dialup or cables, or massive telephone costs - all thanks to the wonders of wireless technology.

At the forefront of this latest technology, City Lodge has partnered with Internet Solutions (IS) and MWEB to bring wireless Internet connectivity to selected hotels through state-of the-art wireless hotspots in City Lodge hotels across the country.

City Lodge recognised the power of providing guests with wireless Internet connectivity as more and more business travellers move around and demand access to their corporate systems. Work on a proof of concept by IS started 12 months ago and the roll-out started on 15 January 2005.

"In addition to our recent announcement to provide wireless connectivity at all major airports in SA, we are delighted to be extending this service to existing IS customers and City Lodge guests," says Angus MacRobert, managing director of IS. "Our existing customers will be able to log onto their corporate systems for e-mail and other Internet-based applications and services, just as if they were in their offices. All they will need is their user ID and password - and of course a wireless-enabled laptop. We are proud to be the first to offer this country-wide."

"MWEB has long been a wireless partner of IS and we are looking forward to bringing this technology to City Lodges. With the addition of City Lodge hotspots we`re reaching both business travellers and other guests who need to stay connected," says Russell Driesenstock, GM of MWEB Home. "We are delighted to be chalking up another first with IS and, now with City Lodge."

"Business people need affordable and hassle-free Internet and e-mail access wherever they are," says Tony Balabanoff, Operations Director of City Lodge. "Business travellers are our largest market and we are constantly looking for ways in which to not only service their needs but add value to their stay in our hotels. The City Lodge brand is the first South African hotel chain to offer wireless hotspots and partnering with IS and MWEB makes it possible for us to offer simple and easy to use systems."

Using IS`s state-of-the-art infrastructure, and utilising dedicated Lines, the service is easy and simple to use.

Internet Solutions

Internet Solutions (IS) has transformed its business model and become a leading converged communications service provider in the country.

The business was founded on the principle of developing a robust infrastructure in order for corporates to conduct e-business. Over the past decade IS has established itself as a leader in this space, attracting over 80% of SA`s top businesses as clients.

During its 10-year life span, IS has evolved and grown its service offerings. Today, the company is the leading hosting service provider and security service provider in SA, as well as having significant market share in the virtual private network (VPN) and application service provider (ASP) space.

Internet Solutions, with an Empowerdex BBB rating, has earned an impressive collection of accolades, including eight First National Bank "Most Admired" awards, two Financial Mail Best Company to Work For awards, a place in the Top Unlisted Company Awards and first place in the ISP category for ComputerWeek Strategist`s Best of Breed IT Awards, 2004.

The company partners with major players such as Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle BT and AT&T, and in 2002 was certified as a Cisco Managed Security Service Provider, the first and only company outside of the US to be awarded this accolade.

For more, visit www.is.co.za.

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