WARWICK, R.I., April 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- ICOA, Inc., (OTCBB:ICOA), today announced it has activated Wi-Fi services in Clermont County Airport, Ohio. ICOA has been contracted by Sporty's to provide equipment and support services for the deployment of Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access at Sporty's Cafe at Clermont County Airport where Sporty's is the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) for private aircraft. The Hot Spot allows anyone with a wireless-enabled computer, PDA or Tablet PC to access the Internet, free of charge, from the Cafe and Retail Shop.
"I'm extremely pleased we are able to offer this service to all pilots visiting Sporty's, as well as to the University of Cincinnati students who train at our campus on a daily basis," said Sporty's Founder and Chairman Hal Shevers. "Students in the professional pilot program have grown accustomed to wireless Internet on the University campus and it is important for them to have the same service here."
Commenting on the installation, ICOA CEO George Strouthopoulos noted, "This is our first Wi-Fi installation in the untapped FBO market vertical, and we could not be happier to have our Wi-Fi transaction system selected by Sporty's to power their recently announced service. Their choice to contract with us is a testimony to the strength of our offering, and recognition of the branding power of customized Wi-Fi."
ICOA's QGO Division was selected by Sporty's to provide and manage a customized Wi-Fi service. Customized Wi-Fi is a web-based portal through which Wi-Fi users access the Internet. When a user logs-on to the Service at Sporty's he/she is presented with valuable information about the Company's products and services before an Internet session is established. QGO's software intelligence is embedded into the Sporty's portal and allows users to authenticate to the Wi-Fi service through QGO's RADIUS-based transaction system. In addition to providing Sporty's with network monitoring and usage transaction statistics, QGO also provides agent-assisted help desk services to Sporty's Wi-Fi users.
ICOA's Airport Network Solutions Division is a recognized leader in the deployment of subscription-based Wi-Fi systems in airports nationwide. The Sporty's contract is ICOA's first airport contract supporting a "free-connect" WI-Fi service. According to government statistics, there are more than 5,300 public-use airports in the United States today.
About Sporty's
Sporty's (www.sportys.com) is the world's largest pilot shop. Since 1961, Sporty's has provided pilots around the world with high quality aviation products at competitive prices and has over 50 pilots on staff. Sporty's offers high quality aviation products and supplies to pilots, private pilots and student pilots. At Clermont County Airport, OH Sporty's is the Fixed Base Operator that provides support and maintenance for private aircraft, and aviation training and education for private pilots.
About ICOA
ICOA, Inc. (www.icoacorp.com) is a provider of Public Wi-Fi and wired Broadband Internet Access. The company owns, operates and manages private networks of Wi-Fi Hot Spots and Internet Terminals (WebCenter3000TM). ICOA operates more than 250 Internet-points-of-presence nationwide in airports, conference centers, fast casual restaurants, and marinas. The Company provides fully managed Wi-Fi and wired broadband Internet connectivity, transactions processing, Internet services, and location based content. ICOA currently operates installations at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana Airport (BTR), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Savannah Hilton-Head International Airport (SAV), Sporty's FBO at the Clermont County Airport, Rhode Island's Newport Harbor 'Hot Zone', 160+ Panera Bread (Nasdaq:PNRA) (www.panerabread.com) locations, Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center and several prestigious hotels.
'Safe Harbor'
The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events and information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside ICOA's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see ICOA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ICOA disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is presented solely to provide additional information to further understand the results of ICOA.