WorkingWild Inc. Announces Strategic Alliance with Toshiba to Roll Out Wireless Hot Spot Solution

Business Wire, Nov 18, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2002

Deploying "ZapLane" Public Access Networks at Conoco/Phillip's

Circle K Convenience Stores, Powered by Toshiba

WorkingWild Inc. and Toshiba's Computer Systems Group (CSG) today announced a strategic alliance to roll out wireless broadband access in Conoco/Phillip's (NYSE:COP) Circle K Convenience stores.

Under WorkingWild's "ZapLane" brand and using Toshiba's wireless solution, the hot spot locations will be deployed in 350 Conoco/Phillip's Circle K convenience stores in the Phoenix and Tucson market by the end of Q1, 2003.

Also included in the agreement are Conoco/Phillip's 2,100 company owned Circle K locations and 15,500 owner/operator locations under the brands Phillips66, Conoco, Union76 and Mobil.

WorkingWild has developed a turn-key solution for retail locations looking to offer wireless connectivity in public spaces for their customers, using Toshiba's wireless router and service infrastructure. WorkingWild is the designated Premiere Hotspot Operator for the deployment of Toshiba's Wireless Broadband Hot Spot solution.

"We believe this alliance significantly ups the ante on wireless access in public spaces and also signifies the beginning of a new stage of sorely needed wireless connectivity," said Oscar Koenders, vice president of product marketing and worldwide product planning for Toshiba CSG.

"The need for high speed connectivity on the road is critical, and matching that need with products and locations that meet that demand makes for a powerful value proposition. Through Conoco/Phillips' more than 17,000 service station and retail outlets in the U.S., WorkingWild is uniquely positioned to capture the coming telematics and content distribution applications that will be the cornerstone of productivity tools for the market we call the `windshield warrior'."

Toshiba's Wireless Broadband Hot Spot Solution allows end users with Wi-Fi enabled notebooks or PDAs to connect with the access point, or "hot spot" to launch an Internet browser and access e-mail, surf the Web, watch streaming video or download multimedia presentations. Utilizing Wi-Fi technology, Toshiba's hot spot service makes it convenient for people to connect while out of the office or home, reducing the complexity of data connection around the ability to gain remote access.

"Wi-Fi as it stands currently is not accessible to the casual surfer in public places," said Harlan Lyons, Executive Vice President of WorkingWild. "Through this alliance with Toshiba to deploy in Conoco/Phillip's convenience store and retail locations, we believe we will start the second generation of Wi-Fi access based on a more dense and ubiquitous deployment of `park & surf' Wi-Fi locations."

About WorkingWild Inc.

WorkingWild creates and owns "digital real estate" by integrating, installing, and operating turnkey broadband, wireless networks (based on the 802.11/Wi-Fi standard) to create "Wireless ZapLanes" at customer-centric commercial locations. Through long-term leases with Commercial Location Partners (CLPs), this "digital real estate" creates potent new channels that yield cost savings and revenue creation opportunities for WorkingWild's Value-Added Provider (VAP) customers.

From remote surveillance services to in-store media screen sponsors and point-of-sale (POS) providers, a variety of VAPs have services which operate successfully in retail location environments. These companies benefit from WorkingWild's ZapLane program because they can deliver their solutions, as well as cost savings, from more efficient deployment and delivery technologies.

About Toshiba Computer Systems Group

Toshiba Computer Systems Group is a division of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. ("TAIS"), a leading vendor for portable computers. In addition to notebooks, the company offers portable and wireless accessories, Pocket PCs, projectors and mobile server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name. For more information call 800/TOSHIBA or visit the company's Web site at www.csd.toshiba.com.

With headquarters in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of multiple divisions that provide computer, communications and imaging products and services. Products include industry leading portable computers, PDAs, mobile computing accessories, servers, including communications and portable servers, storage subsystems, cable modems, digital business telephone systems, voice-mail, digital cameras, security systems, and projectors.

TAIS provides sales, marketing, services and manufacturing for its wide range of information products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp., which is a world leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and electronic components, products and systems. Toshiba has global sales of more than $40 billion and more than 300 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.