PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Avis Rent A Car System, LLC today announced that it will bring portable Wi-Fi connectivity to the travel industry with the launch of its new Avis Connect service. Avis Connect enables travelers to enjoy broadband wireless Internet connectivity at all times and places during their travel, from airports to meetings to hotels, and everything in between. The opportunity to have portable connectivity throughout their trip is expected to enhance the productivity and convenience of Avis renters' travel.
The first Avis Connect units will be available starting today at San Francisco International Airport and will be offered in the coming weeks at Avis airport locations in San Jose, Oakland, Los Angeles and Newark, followed in the third quarter at airport locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, San Diego and Seattle. The cost of the Avis Connect service is $10.95 per day.
"At Avis we continue to lead the industry in introducing products that make travel easier, smarter and more productive for both business and leisure travelers," said Mike Caron, vice president of product and program development for Avis Budget Group, parent of Avis. "Today, travelers are increasingly considering Internet access to be an important aspect of travel. With Avis Connect we are providing an easy-to-use service to help executives and families stay connected. This is just one of the many technological innovations, like our electronic toll collection services, that Avis is proud to introduce to the industry."
Avis Connect was developed by Autonet Mobile exclusively for Avis. "The Avis Connect service allows multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect to the Internet, giving business and leisure travelers unlimited access to data, music, games, chat and anything else they might like to access while they travel," said Sterling Pratz, CEO of Autonet Mobile. "Avis Connect service is simple to use and does not require any software or technical expertise. Anyone who has a Wi-Fi enabled laptop or device can simply log on and surf."
Avis customers that utilize Avis Connect service do not need cellular data cards or special software loads to connect to wireless Internet devices. Avis Connect is compatible with all Wi-Fi enabled devices, including laptops, Ultra-Mobile PC handhelds and PDAs.
For more information, visit www.avis.com. Avis customers will be reminded at the time of rental that the service is not to be used by the driver while operating the vehicle. The service is intended to be used by passengers, when the vehicle is parked, or in locations other than the rental car.
About Autonet Mobile
Autonet Mobile is the world's first in-car Internet service provider. Autonet Mobile's patent pending TRU Technology enables seamless Internet connectivity so that passengers stay connected while driving. TRU Technology provides intelligent, dynamic automatic session management between high/low speed networks, producing a reliable user experience. Autonet Mobile ensures a secure, broadband-level connection to any Wi-Fi-enabled device within close proximity to the vehicle. Founded by a corporate executive and former race car driver, and leading network architect and designer, the company is dedicated to enhancing the in-car experience, and bringing a full, multimedia experience to the 200+ million cars on the road in the U.S. Reliable, secure and fast, Autonet Mobile is effective on more than 95 percent of roads in the U.S. The service turns the car into a secure mobile hotspot, allowing multiple Wi-Fi- enabled devices to connect, and giving consumers access to data, music, games, chat, and anything else they might like to access in their second home-the car. For more information, visit www.autonetmobile.com.
About Avis
Avis Rent A Car System, LLC and its subsidiaries operate one of the world's leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure customers with a wide range of services at more than 2,100 locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin American / Caribbean region. Avis is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty, ranking as the number one car rental company in the 2007 Brand Keys(R) Customer Loyalty Index. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. . For more information, visit www.avis.com.