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TIME WARNER CABLE IS THE PREFERRED Wi-Fi, BROADBAND
INTERNET & CABLE PROVIDER OF THE HOUSTON ASTROS


Astros to be First All-Star Game Host to Offer Fans Wireless Internet Access; Wi-Fi Services to Begin Friday (7/2) vs. Texas Rangers

HOUSTON (June 30, 2004) ­ Time Warner Cable-Houston (TWC) and the Houston Astros announced today that TWC is the preferred provider of Wi-Fi, Broadband Internet and Cable television service to the Houston Astros. The agreement between the Astros and TWC, which brings wireless Internet access to the entire ballpark, makes Minute Maid a Road Runner Speed Zone and one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the country.

"Time Warner Cable is pleased to provide the Houston Astros and fans with the most innovative technology in the industry," said T. Ray Purser, vice president of public affairs for Time Warner Cable-Houston. "By bringing cable television and wireless Internet access to Minute Maid Park, we can give the fans an experience in baseball and technology like never before."

"With today's technology, the demand is huge for these wireless hotspots by the ever-growing number of Wi-Fi laptop users and PDA users who want to access the Internet," said Andrew Huang, Astros Vice President of Marketing. "This is a way that we can accommodate our fans and bring their ballpark experience to a new level."

Wi-Fi services will begin at Minute Maid Park this Friday (July 2) at the Astros 7:05 p.m. game with the Texas Rangers. The Astros are one of the only major professional sports teams to offer Wi-Fi to their fans. The team will host Major League Baseball's 75th Annual All-Star Game on July 13, the very first time the All-Star Game will be played in a venue with Wi-Fi capabilities for fans.

In order to transform Minute Maid into a Road Runner Speed Zone, TWC has deployed nearly 100 wireless access points throughout the ballpark using equipment and support from Cisco Systems, Inc., Colubris Networks and NetNearU Corp. These access points allow Wi-Fi compatible devices such as laptop computers and PDAs to tap into the Internet from anywhere in the stadium. As part of the agreement with the Astros, TWC is also providing cable service to 350 television sets throughout the stadium and Road Runner Business Class dedicated Internet access to the Astros front office.

Road Runner Speed Zone wireless connection speeds are up to 3Mb down and 384 Kb up, and toll free Speed Zone technical support is available year-round, 24/7 at 1-866-75-SPEED (77333). Fans bringing their Wi-Fi compatible devices to the ballpark will be able to surf the web when they purchase a four-hour time block for only $3.95 per game.

Fans who subscribe to TWC's Road Runner high-speed online service and bring their username and password will automatically receive a 15-minute, no obligation, free trial subscription at every Astros home game they attend this season. When the Astros play a doubleheader, the fans may choose which game to use the 15-minute free trial. For more information about Road Runner Speed Zones, please visit www.houston.rr.com/speedzone.

Road Runner Speed Zone Fast Facts
  • By the end of 2002, there were an estimated 2.5 million Wi-Fi users. By 2008, this will have grown to 707 million users. ­Gartner Dataquest, Pyramid Research
  • In order to gain wireless Internet access, the laptop or PDA must have an 802.11 interface which, in some cases, is inserted through a separate piece of hardware. By 2005, however, 80 percent of all commercial notebooks will have a built-in 802.11 interface. ­ Gartner Dataquest
  • Conservative estimates suggest that at current rates of adoption, almost half a billion 802.11-based devices (including access points, cell phones, desktop PCs, DVD players, MP3 players, NICs, notebooks, PDAs, TV sets, and other products) will be sold in 2005. ­ PC Magazine
  • Speed Zone visitors do not have to be Road Runner subscribers to take advantage of Road Runner's fast, simple and secure Wi-Fi hotspot service
  • Road Runner Speed Zone clients will experience the same standard download and upload speeds as Road Runner high-speed online subscribers: 3Mbps down/ 384Kbps up
  • Speed Zone access rates vary from venue to venue depending on the service agreement between the venue and Road Runner Business Class


About NetNearU
NetNearU Corp. provides comprehensive point-of-access management solutions including Operation Support Systems (OSS) and client software for distributed devices. The Company's software solutions manage networks of broadband wireless access points utilizing the 802.11 standard, as well as Internet-based kiosks and web payphones used to provide public Internet access, mobile professional data services, e-commerce applications and customer service functions. The Company is headquartered in College Station, Texas. More information about NetNearU may be found at http://www.nnu.com.

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