PR releases

Broadreach Networks and Skype Deliver Voice over WiFi

First UK Public Wireless Internet Access Partner Allows Skype Users Free Calling From 350 Broadreach Networks’ ReadytoSurf™ Hotspots

LONDON, March 3, 2005 – Broadreach Networks, one of the UK’s leading independent Internet location providers and Skype Technologies S.A., the Global Internet Telephony Company™, today announced a partnership offering free Voice over Wi-Fi.  Broadreach will open its network of 350 ReadytoSurf™ fixed and Wi-Fi wireless Internet locations in popular train stations, cafés and retail outlets across the UK to allow all Skype users free access to Skype.  Starting today, wherever there is a ReadytoSurf hotspot, Skype users will enjoy the benefits of their Skype account at no charge whilst away from the home or office.

This partnership allows Skype’s users in the UK to extend their reach to the growing base of more than 28 million global users.   The new traffic will boost usage of Broadreach’s ReadytoSurf™ hotspots and users will be charged for access to data services like Web browsing and email.

Broadreach’s network of internet locations, which has a combined footfall of over 1bn per year, includes major brands like Virgin Megastores, Eurostar, Travelodge, Moto, Little Chef, Virgin Trains, EAT , Choice Hotels and Quality Inn and major railway stations including all the London terminals.  Broadreach is the first hotspot operator to have secured a deal of this sort with Skype and is the launch partner in the UK. Global peer-to-peer Internet telephony company, Skype, offers a free, feature-rich multi-mode communications software with unrivalled call quality.  Free Skype features include instant messaging with group chat, 5-party conference calling, file transfer, and easy mobility with the ability to sign in to a Skype account from any Internet connected PC anywhere in the world, a user-built global contact directory with numerous search options and an easy add-a-contact tool. Skype also offers SkypeOut, a pre-paid service that allows calls to landline and mobile numbers worldwide at low calling rates.

 “Broadreach is a leader in the UK wireless market with a very high number of customers passing through its network locations and creative deployments such as Wi-Fi for rail passengers.  Broadreach’s understanding of, and relationships with, the transport industry makes the collaboration a compelling one for us and all UK Skype users,” said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and co-founder.   “We will continue to deliver our wireless strategy and efforts to make Skype ubiquitous”.

Broadreach CEO and founder Magnus McEwen-King added: “Skype’s success at spreading the word about Internet telephony is well-known and we are delighted to be offering free access to Skype users into our hotspots.  We are pleased to be chosen as Skype’s UK launch partner for Voice over WiFi, which endorses the quality of our network based on the brands in our portfolio as well as the very high footfall figures.  We’ve always known that VoIP services would be very useful in a hotspot, and have been keen to make our ReadytoSurf™ sites ReadytoTalk™ for some time in order to enhance the experience for our 110,000 registered users, and those of our roaming partners. For us, the deal will drive awareness and use of our sites for data access services – Broadreach sites are already ReadytoSurf™ for data, now they are ReadytoTalk™ with Skype.”

About Broadreach Networks Limited.

http://www.broadreachnet.com  or http://www.readytosurf.com

Broadreach is one of the leading providers of Internet access for people on the move, through both fixed-point terminals and wireless hotspots in high footfall, public locations where it operates one of the largest networks in the UK under the ReadytoSurf™ brand name.

Broadreach’s main market sectors are Rail (customers include Eurostar, Network Rail and Virgin Trains); Hotels/Leisure (Travelodge, Quality Hotels, Queens Moat House, Scottish Youth Hostels) and Retail (Little Chef, Sainsbury’s, EAT, BagelFactory, Virgin Megastores).

Broadreach provides users access though roaming agreements with third party service providers which include: iPass, Boingo, Go Remote, Excilan, BT Yahoo, Virgin.Net and many others. Broadreach’s ReadytoSurf™ service is also available as subscription and pay-as-you-go service and has seen in excess of 1m users. At the end of 2004, Broadreach had over 100,000 registered members of the ReadytoSurf™ service.

Formed in May 2000 as a spin-out from Arthur D Little, the international management consultancy firm, Broadreach’s investors include BT, Foresight Venture Partners, the Intel Communications Fund, Virgin, and YFM Group. Broadreach Networks formed a wholly owned subsidiary Broadreach Train Services to service the rail industry which attracted additional investment from existing shareholders in June 2004.

About Skype Technologies S. A.

Skype, the Global Internet Telephony Company™, allows people everywhere to make free, unlimited, superior quality voice calls via its award-winning innovative peer-to-peer software for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Pocket PC platforms. Skype is available in 22 languages and is the fastest growing voice communications offering worldwide. Since its launch in August 2003, Skype has been downloaded more than 78 million times. Skype Technologies S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg and is growing its offices in London and Tallinn. Skype Technologies is privately held and backed by top-tier international venture capital firms, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Index Ventures, and Mangrove Capital Partners. www.skype.com