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High Speed Wireless Internet access allows you to use your personal mobile device (Laptop, PDA, Table PC, Pocket PC, etc.) to access the Internet when in range of an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) Access Point. Similar to cell towers, which carry voice traffic for cell phone users located miles away from the tower itself, these Access Points (APs) can carry network data from your Wi-Fi enabled device and cover ranges of hundreds of feet. Although the distance is much shorter than that of a cellular network, the data speed is many times faster and is perfect for blanketing public indoor and outdoor areas where Internet connectivity can be beneficial to customers who carry mobile devices (coffee shops, lounges, restaurants, convention centers, hotels, etc.).

802.11 or Wi-Fi networks are a popular wireless access method used for mobile computing. It is truly one of the hottest and most revolutionary technologies of the last decade. By 2005, it is anticipated that there will be millions of 802.11 users around the globe. It is the goal of Single Digits and our hotspot partners to offer this mobile Internet infrastructure to mobile customers for the value and convenience it provides.

It is at least 50x faster than traditional dial-up services.

No. Only a standard web browser and 802.11 wireless network adapter is required.

Any standards-based 802.11b network adapter will work seamlessly with our network. These network adapters can be supported in a variety of mobile devices, including laptops and handheld computers. If you are interested in purchasing an 802.11 adapter for you mobile device, you will find a wide selection at Amazon.com or at other electronic retailers.

Yes. Most web-based e-mail services accessible from the Internet (Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) or corporate e-mail servers available through VPN services can be accessed from the Single Digits network.
NOTE: Single Digits can offer SMTP services to its customers (hotels, schools, marinas, property management, malls, etc.) as part of their license agreements if they desire. These services will allow users of the system to send non-WEB email through our servers on behalf of your ISP.

A “hotspot” is another name for a public 802.11 wireless network (WLAN). More and more businesses are now offering such hotspots to attract new business and differentiate themselves from competitors. Single Digits specializes in the implementation, support and service of public hotspots leveraging our years of experience with wireless and general network technologies.

Because our service is not dependent on any special software, we also are not dependent on the operating system of a client. Mobile users of various versions of Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, as well as handheld devices, should all be able to connect to our service so long as the client has an 802.11 network adapter and web browser software installed.

When visiting a location that is enabled with the Single Digits network, there are a few things that must be setup properly to allow you to connect:

• • Make sure your 802.11 wireless network adapter is installed and working properly. Check you hardware manufacturer documentation if you are not sure how to check the status of your adapter.
  • Set the SSID (also referred to as a “wireless network name”) of your wireless adapter to “singledigits” (without the quotation marks). This setting can usually be found in the properties of the 802.11 network adapter itself or within a client utility tool that some wireless hardware vendors provide.
  • Make sure WEP encryption is turned off (this is usually the default setting).
  • Make sure the 802.11 wireless adapter is running in “infrastructure” mode as opposed to “Ad Hoc” (“Infrastructure” is usually the default setting).
  • Set the IP properties of the 802.11 wireless adapter to use DHCP to receive its IP address and DNS information (DHCP is typically the default setting).
  • Open your web browser and login securely to the Single Digits network using your registered One Plan username and password (accept the Single Digits digital certificate should your browser prompt you with a security trust warning). Once authenticated, you will see a web page that will keep track of your statistics for the session and provide you with a mechanism to log out when finished. In the meantime, you are free to browse the web, check email and/or connect back to your corporate network.

We take security very seriously at Single Digits. The reality, though, is that a public wireless hotspot (or any connection to the Internet for that matter) can never be 100% secure with the existing technology available and, at the same time, provide the type of seamless Internet connectivity that our One Plan members enjoy. We do, however, provide the following measures of security in order to minimize the exposure our customers may have to unauthorized eavesdropping and tampering when using our services:

• • Single Digits provides secure, encrypted transactions when registering for or when signing on to our service via HTTPS (SSL).
  • Our service minimizes a local security threat by preventing local wireless users from attacking or eavesdropping on other local wireless users (Peer-to-Peer attacks).
  • Our service provides firewall protection from the Internet itself at every Single Digits hotspot location. This shields our users from many types of attacks that could originate from outside sources.
  • In addition to the above levels of security Single Digits provides it users automatically, we also recommend our users further protect themselves by doing the following:
  • Use Virtual Private Networking (VPNs) when interacting with any sensitive material.
  • Obtain a personal firewall software package. There are many different vendors to choose from. A few of the more popular ones are: Norton Internet Security, ISS Black ICE, Sygate Personal Firewall, Zone Labs ZoneAlarm.

Our One Plan account costs you nothing and there is no 3rd party software you need to download. Single Digits HotSpot Partners set their own rates which may vary from totally free locations to spots that charge a nominal fee for access. You will need your One Plan account for both fee-based and no cost Single Digits wireless locations.

Here are several ways you can protect yourself.

• • Disable your wireless card’s ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) mode. You can do this via the adapter’s utilities or within Windows XP by clicking on Network Connections in the Control Panel. This will help prevent anyone from connecting to your notebook.
  • Remove or disable your wireless card if you’re working offline.
  • Install a personal firewall. Windows XP offers the rudimentary Internet Connections Firewall, but more advanced personal firewall products, such as Symantec’s Norton Internet Security and Zone Labs’ ZoneAlarm, can prevent others from accessing your notebook and even alert you when an attempt is made.
  • Install personal antivirus software from McAfee, Symantec or another antivirus vendor, and enable automatic signature updates.
  • Take advantage of your e-mail client’s security features, particularly digital signatures and e-mail encryption. Digital signatures verify your identity to your recipients and ensure that messages are not tampered with during transmission. Microsoft Outlook lets you add digital signatures to messages and encrypt messages and attachments using S/MIME. If you’re using a Web-based e-mail service, make sure it offers some type of encryption. Be aware, however, that in many cases with such services only the log-on information is encrypted, while text is sent in the clear. You may want to use third-party e-mail encryption utilities, such as PGP Corp.’s PGP Personal, which offers digital signatures and strong encryption for messages and attachments, as well as for files stored on your computer.
  • Make sure you submit credit card information only to SSL-protected Web sites (look for https:// in the address bar).
  • For the best protection, use a virtual private network (VPN) to provide strong authentication and encryption for all your hot-spot communications. This is particularly important if you’re connecting to your company’s network, in which case you’ll probably get VPN client software from your IT manager. Small-business users can install VPN-enabled firewall and router appliances from Netgear, SonicWall, 3Com, or Watchguard at the office or use one of the many small-business VPN services available, for example, from Sprint or Verio. Individual users can take advantage of inexpensive consumer VPN services such as HotSpotVPN or they can limit themselves to protected hot spots, such as those from EarthLink and others that make up the Boingo Wireless network.
  • Keep your OS and software up to date with security patches.

And of course, make sure nobody is looking over your shoulder as you enter vital information. Enjoy the freedom and convenience that hot spots offer, but make sure that hot spots don’t land you in hot water.