Vonage to resell wifi access

Internet telephony player Vonage said Monday that it has signed a three year contract with US internet service provider EarthLink to offer wifi internet access in select cities throughout the US.

Under terms of the agreement, Vonage will buy internet access on a wholesale basis from EarthLink in all cities where the company will build, own and operate municipal wireless networks. Vonage will then sell its own wifi internet service to consumers under the Vonage brand.

EarthLink has been awarded municipal wifi contracts in Philadelphia, Anaheim, Milpitas and New Orleans.

Later this year, Vonage said it plans to provide hardware, such as a wireless modem device, and other complementary software tools to customers that will be using the service as an alternative to fixed line internet access.