Toshiba Launches Mobile Access Service For Enterprises

A division of Toshiba Tuesday unveiled an aggregated access service aimed at providing both wireless and wired access for remote enterprise workers.

The company's Digital Products Division said its MyConnect Enterprise service will provide almost 50,000 points connection worldwide, including Wi-Fi hotspots, public broadband access in hotels and other travel-related evenues and even dial-up access. The access will be available in more than 150 countries, the company said.

The company initially said it would offer such service for individual users since July of 2004. Like competitors such as iPass, Toshiba doesn't set up the access itself but, rather, is aggregating services of other providers. Last July, it signed an agreement with GoRemote to provide such access.

"With the MyConnect Enterprise service package, enterprises can reduce their remote access costs while expanding their coverage dramatically," Raja Narayanan, vice president of mobility solutions for Toshiba's Digital Products Division, said in a statement.

Users log on to all at any connection using a single bit of software. For security, virtual private network (VPN) support is built into the software.At one time, Toshiba had tried to break into the hotspot market, competing for the right to install hotspots in McDonald's restaurants. It lost that bid to Wayport and, since then, has focused on aggregating services for users.