Bitbuzz News

We're hiring account managers!

2012-11-01T22:21:00.002+00:00

Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator and operates at the leading edge
of the Irish Internet industry. We are currently looking for an experienced and
motivated person for a new business development/account management role.

This role involves managing a portfolio of existing customers in the hotel sector . The role will also involve developing new leads and sellign to new customers. You will work as part of our
Site Management team alongside executives covering other sectors.

The role is suitable for someone with strong account management experience
and a proven track record in customer retention.

Responsibilities:
• Managing and developing the on-going relationship with Bitbuzz Location
Partners in your sector, including dealing with general queries from location
partners,
• Providing staff training and managing Bitbuzz point-of-sale in locations.
• Negotiating new contract terms and fees with our Location Partners.
• Working with each Location Partner to increase usage and revenue as well as
introducing new products and services to our Location Partners.

Required skills/experience (please do not apply unless you have all of these)
• Demonstrable experience or interest in the internet, broadband & technology
• Excellent presentation & writing skills.
• Excellent telephone communication skills.
• Good inter-personal skills.
• Experience in sales or account management, preferably in the
telecommunication or hospitality environment.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and to targets.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Full license and own transport.
• Native English speaker.

Desirable skills /experience
• Knowledge of the Wi-Fi industry
• A third level qualification.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Good knowledge of the Irish hotel sector

Salary will be appropriate for a candidate with several years relevant experience.

This successful candidate will be based at our offices in Upper Mount Street, Dublin
and will spend a portion of their time visiting customers throughout Dublin and the
rest of the country.

To apply for this job, please email your CV and a covering letter, in either Word or
PDF format, to people@bitbuzz.com. Bitbuzz is an equal opportunity employer.

We're hiring!

2012-10-07T22:27:00.000+01:00

Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator and operates at the leading edge
of the Irish Internet industry. We are currently looking for a bright, personable and
motivated person for a new business development/account management role.

This role involves managing a portfolio of existing customers in the coffee shop
and café bar sector . The role will also involve developing new leads, running direct
marketing campaigns and some administration work. You will work as part of our
Site Management team alongside executives covering other sectors.

The role is ideally suited for someone with prior account management experience but
with a proven track record in customer retention.

Responsibilities:
• Managing and developing the on-going relationship with Bitbuzz Location
Partners in your sector, including dealing with general queries from location
partners,
• Providing staff training and managing Bitbuzz point-of-sale in locations.
• Negotiating new contract terms and fees with our Location Partners.
• Working with each Location Partner to increase usage and revenue as well as
introducing new products and services to our Location Partners.
• Designing, writing and managing direct mail campaigns to prospective new
locations and following up on this activity.

Required skills/experience (please do not apply unless you have all of these)
• Demonstrable experience or interest in the internet, broadband & technology
• Excellent presentation & writing skills.
• Excellent telephone communication skills.
• Good inter-personal skills.
• Experience in sales or account management, preferably in the
telecommunication or hospitality environment.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and to targets.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Full license and own transport.
• Native English speaker.

Desirable skills /experience (you must have at least 1 of these)
• Have used public Wi-Fi hotspots .
• A third level qualification.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Good knowledge of the Irish hospitality industry (for example, significant
amount of bar or coffee shop work).

Salary will be appropriate for a candidate with 1 year's relevant experience.

This successful candidate will be based at our offices in Upper Mount Street, Dublin
and will spend a portion of their time visiting customers throughout Dublin and the
rest of the country.
To apply for this job, please email your CV and a covering letter, in either Word or
PDF format, to people@bitbuzz.com. Bitbuzz is an equal opportunity employer.

Login in style as Bitbuzz partner with Harvey Nichols Dublin

2012-09-25T11:52:00.001+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi provider, announced today (25^th September 2012) that it is now providing Wi-Fi at Harvey Nichols in the Dundrum Town Centre.

Complimentary Wi-Fi in 20 minute sessions is now available to all those dining at the newly re-launched First Floor Bar & Brasserie at Harvey Nichols and the Harvey Nichols Café. The service has been live for a number of weeks and already usage levels have been excellent, with customers using their smartphones to check emails, use social media and browse fashion blogs.

Kenny Robertson, Director, Harvey Nichols Dublin, said of the partnership: “Over the past couple of years we have noticed a growing demand for fast, efficient Wi-Fi from our customers in both dining establishments and we are pleased to now offer this service through our partnership with Bitbuzz. A large proportion of our customers have smartphones and the feedback from them so far has been great.”

Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz said; “Easy access to safe, reliable Wi-Fi is now expected by customers in cafes, restaurants and hotels throughout the country. We are pleased to offer our service in the First Floor Bar & Brasserie at Harvey Nichols and the Harvey Nichols Café, and we hope to continue partnering with more high profile and well regarded brands such as Harvey Nichols.”

Bitbuzz recently announced that it has now reached 411 hotspots and is recording 10,000 peak logins per day on busy days across Ireland and the UK.

Bitbuzz record most Wi-Fi usage ever

2012-09-21T16:36:00.005+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi provider, announced today that it recorded its most ever logins in one day on Friday 31^st August 2012, the day before Notre Dame took on the US Naval Academy in an NCAA college football season opener in the Aviva Stadium.

On the day Bitbuzz recorded 19,677 logins, marking a 117% increase on the corresponding day 12 months earlier, when the company recorded 9,049 logins over a 24 hour period. This significant increase has been attributed to a number of factors including the signing of a number of high profile business deals this year; expansion within the UK market; the launch of the outdoor Wi-Fi product Bitbuzz Freedom on Grafton Street in June; and of course the influx of visitors into Dublin that weekend.

Shane Deasy, Managing Director of Bitbuzz said of the login figures, “We were pleased to see the activity figures on the day, which we believe show the importance of offering fast, efficient Wi-Fi to tourists visiting our cities. Earlier this year we announced a number of new partnerships in coffee shops, hotels and restaurants in the UK and Ireland that have had a big impact on the amount of logins we recorded.”

“Bitbuzz Freedom’s availability on Grafton St means that tourists visiting the capital can now check maps, confirm bookings, research transport services, and research local businesses for free on the capital’s busiest street, which again has had an effected on the number of logins we are recording. We look forward to rolling this out in other locations in Dublin and Irelandover the coming months,” he said.

Some of the new contracts and partnerships announced by Bitbuzz since January 2012 include Applegreen, Tune Hotels; Belmore Court Hotel; Insomnia Coffee; Wyndham Hotels; Easy Hotels, Michael Deane’s Restaurant and Meeting House Square in Temple Bar. Bitbuzz has also extended partnerships with Three Ireland, Costa Coffee and Carlton Hotels.

Bitbuzz is hiring! - Support engineer

2012-08-20T22:17:00.000+01:00

Bitbuzz is hiring!

We're Ireland's largest Wi-Fi network; we operate over 400 hotspots across Ireland and the UK and carry more than half of Ireland's public Wi-Fi traffic.

We're proud of the quality of our customer service and we're now hiring a Level 2 support engineer to join our team. This is a part-time role, approx 15 hours per week evenings and weekends. It could be office based (central Dublin) or home based.

We're looking for someone with the following skills:

- Good knowledge of common desktop support issues (primarily Windows, but Mac experience would be a plus)

- Good understanding of TCP/IP networking concepts

- Some knowledge of Linux

- Excellent debugging skills

- An excellent customer service attitude and manner

- Prior experience in a customer service role

If you think you have what it takes to help us grow by giving our customers a great online experience, send your CV to techpeople@bitbuzz.com. Please send PDFs only; CVs in other formats will be ignored, sorry.

Wi-Fi usage grows, but consumers remain unaware of laws

2012-08-20T11:12:00.004+01:00

- 72% unaware that Public Wi-Fi hotspots are obliged by law to retain information about who uses their service.

A survey into our coffee shop habits by Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi provider, has found that 88% of respondents would be encourage to sit down on their own in a Coffee Shop if there was fast, efficient Wi-Fi available. 73% of respondents said that they used Wi-Fi regularly on their Android or iPhones; however, 72% of respondents were unaware that public Wi-Fi hotspots are obliged by law to retain information about who uses their service.

Speaking about the survey Shane Deasy, Managing Director of Bitbuzz said: “As Bitbuzz is now available in some of the leading coffee shop chains around the country we thought it would be interesting to see what our new customers’ habits were. It is encouraging to hear that, even with this tough economic situation, 77% of respondents visited coffee shops at least once a week.”

“While we are not surprised at the volume of Wi-Fi use, we were very surprised to discover that the majority of respondents were unaware of Wi-Fi law. It is important that consumers realise that Wi-Fi hotspots have to retain their information by law and to only use Wi-Fi that is operated by safe, reliable registered companies,” he continued.

57% of respondents said that they would prefer to use Wi-Fi in a coffee shop that asked you to set up a free account, was always working and has professional phone support.

The growth in Wi-Fi has influenced social media usage when in Coffee Shops, 74% of respondents had used Facebook, 48% had checked-in on Facebook and 48% had used twitter. The ready availability of Wi-Fi has also influenced our manners – 78% of respondents had checked their email when with a friend in a Coffee Shop.

Positive Operating Performance for Bitbuzz

2012-08-20T11:11:00.002+01:00

- Average data download up 17% per user

Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator and an independent Irish-owned business, has announced operating figures revealing continued growth in subscriber numbers in the first six months of the year. Bitbuzz had a total of 858,200 registered users by the end of June 2012. The corresponding figure for the first six month’s to the end of June 2011 was 460,000, representing an increase of 46%.

The total number of Bitbuzz Wi-Fi hotspots across the country at the end of June 2012 was 411. At the end of June 2011 Bitbuzz had 272 hotspots, a year-on-year increase by 34%. The average data downloaded per month per user is now 338mb, which is up from 280mb recorded at the start of the year, up 17%.

There has been a significant growth in the total number of logins per month for Bitbuzz, which now exceed 400,000, almost double the 206,605 logins recorded at the end of June 2011. Bitbuzz is now seeing an average of over 10,000 per day, and last month recorded 100,000 logins in a week for the first time. The increase in logins can be in part attributed to Bitbuzz’s availability in hotel rooms, the service available in over 10,000 hotel bedrooms.

Bitbuzz has announced significant developments in its UK operation this year, which has influenced the growth in hotspots and registered users; Tune Hotels, Easy Hotels, Days Hotels, Ramada and Wyndham Grand hotel brands all announced deals with Bitbuzz in 2012.

Shane Deasy, Managing Director of Bitbuzz said of the figures: “We are very pleased with the figures for 2012 so far. We attribute the continued growth for Bitbuzz, in part to the expansion of our UK business but also to the increase in users of smartphones throughout Ireland. In particular, since finalising our latest deal with Three Ireland to offer fee Wi-Fi connectivity to all their customers we have seen a further increase in those with Android phones.”

“Earlier this year we were happy to announce a deal with Insomnia that saw us launching complimentary 30 minute Wi-Fi throughout all of their stores across Ireland, we are also now providing Wi-Fi throughout all of Three Ireland retail stores nationwide – both of these roll-outs have been very significant to our growth this year.” He continued.

“Just recently we launched a new product called Bitbuzz Freedom and we look forward to rolling this out throughout Ireland over the coming months. We hope that this, along with our continued expansion into the hospitality sector and throughout the UK, will help us achieve continued growth.” Mr. Deasy added.

Bitbuzz achieve record 100,000 logins in a week

2012-06-21T09:39:00.003+01:00

As hotspots increase by 21% since January

Dublin, 20^th June 2012: Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator, recorded over 100,000 logins per week for the first time since its foundation in 2003. The continued growth in logins reflects a large increase in the number of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Ireland and the UK; since January this year the amount of Bitbuzz hotspots has increased from 320 to 405.

Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz, said: “We are very pleased to see these figures. It is encouraging to know that, despite a very challenging economic environment, customers are still visiting our key locations and using the great value, safe and reliable Wi-Fi there.”

“So far 2012 has been our busiest year yet; we attribute this growing demand for the continued rise in smartphone use and the emerging tablet market. Our aim for the rest of the year is to continue partnering with well respected businesses throughout Ireland and the UK.” He continued.

Some of the new contracts and partnerships announced by Bitbuzz since January 2012 include Tune Hotels; Belmore Court Hotel; Insomnia Coffee; Wyndham Hotels; Michael Deane’s Restaurant and Meeting House Square in Temple Bar. Bitbuzz has also extended partnerships with Three Ireland, Costa Coffee and Carlton Hotels; and announced the appointment of three new staff in the UK.

Carlton Hotel Dublin signs up to Bitbuzz Convention

2012-05-29T12:43:00.003+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi provider, has signed a new deal to extend its Wi-Fi partnership with Carlton Hotel Group in Ireland and has introduced Bitbuzz Convention to Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel.

Bitbuzz Convention provides Carlton Dublin Airport Hotel with the ability to support hundreds of conference delegates in one room with high speed Wi-Fi access, dedicated internet access for conference speakers and on site technical support. As part of the product Bitbuzz also provides faster download speeds; increased capacity for large events; simplified login processes for conference attendees and emergency broadband backup.

Bitbuzz is also providing complimentary Wi-Fi to the Carlton Hotel Group guests for the duration of their stay, which is a significant move forward from the 30 minutes complimentary access agreed in the original deal. Two further properties have now be added to the estate of Carlton Hotels that offer Bitbuzz Wi-Fi, Carlton Blanchardstown and Carlton Shearwater, bringing the total number to seven.

Michael Kearney, CEO, Carlton Hotel Group, commented: “Since appointing Bitbuzz as our preferred supplier, the take-up from our guests has surpassed all expectations. The original deal provided a Wi-Fi service that offered continuity and reliability to our guests and we look forward to working with Bitbuzz in extending our Wi-Fi offering to meet growing demand.”

According to Russell McQuillan, Business Development Director, Bitbuzz: “We are very pleased to extend our partnership with Carlton Hotel Group’s hotels in Ireland. The high demand for Wi-Fi we have seen within the current estate is part of a growing trend; fast, efficient and complimentary Wi-Fi has become an essential service that is now expected in modern hotels.”

Wyndham Hotels Appoints Bitbuzz as Preferred Wi-Fi Supplier in the UK

2012-05-11T14:18:00.002+01:00

Wyndham Hotels has appointed Bitbuzz, specialists in innovative Wi-Fi solutions for the hospitality sector, as its preferred supplier of Wi-Fi internet access to its portfolio of hotels across the UK, including its Days Hotels, Ramada, Ramada Encore and Wyndham Grand hotel brands.

Wyndham Hotels has 109 properties in the UK, which means that Bitbuzz could potentially provide complimentary Wi-Fi to a total of 9,866 hotel bedrooms. Bitbuzz has already commenced providing Wi-Fi services to some Ramada and Days hotels in the UK.

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Director, Bitbuzz, commented: “We are very pleased to be chosen by such a prestigious brand. Wi-Fi access is now an essential service and hotel guests expect a fast and reliable service. Bitbuzz are committed to providing this, as well as world-class customer support to all our hotel partners.”

Roops Johal, Director of the Days Hotel Heathrow, commented: “Since taking on Bitbuzz we have seen a huge uptake in Wi-Fi service usage by our guests. Safe, reliable and fast Wi-Fi is now a necessity within the hotel sector and we are delighted to include this in our offering.”

Since June 2010, Bitbuzz has been injecting some much-needed competition into the UK Wi-Fi market. Amongst Bitbuzz’s notable UK clients are Ibis Hotels, Elegant English Hotels, Travelodge, StayCity Apartments, Kensington Rooms, Tune Hotels, Costa Coffee, The Lough Erne Resort and Leeds Bradford Airport

Recently Bitbuzz announced that it now had in excess of 700,000 registered users and is achieving 10,000 peak logins per day on busy days across the UK Ireland.

Tune Hotels appoints Bitbuzz for two new London hotels

2012-05-04T11:29:00.004+01:00

Tune Hotels has appointed Bitbuzz as the exclusive supplier of Wi-Fi internet access to its two new hotels in Paddington and Kings Cross, London. Bitbuzz specialise in innovative Wi-Fi solutions for the hospitality industry.

Tune Hotels entered the UK with its first hotels in 2010. The 137 bedroom Tune Hotel Paddington will open in June and the 217 bedroom Tune Hotel King's Cross is set to open in July. Both new hotels will provide fast, efficient Bitbuzz Wi-Fi as part of their offering. A further 8 Hotels are planned to open by 2015.

Joe Stenson, Hotel Director of Queensway Group who operate the hotels under license from Tune comments: “We will be introducing some serious competition into the London hospitality market over the next few years, with the offering of a five star sleeping experience at a one star price. Reliable Wi-Fi is now an essential part of hotel service, no matter what price you pay and we are delighted to offer this through such a well recognised supplier as Bitbuzz.”

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Director, Bitbuzz commented: “As smartphone ownership continues to rise, the importance of safe, fast Wi-Fi becomes paramount. We are looking forward to working with Tune Hotels as they roll-out their service in London and adding a further competitive edge to their exciting brand.”

Since June 2010, Bitbuzz has been injecting some much-needed competition into the UK Wi-Fi market. Amongst Bitbuzz’s notable UK clients are easyHotels, Wyndham Hotel Group, Holiday Inn Express, Ibis Hotels, Travelodge, StayCity Apartments, Kensington Rooms, Costa Coffee, and Leeds Bradford Airport.

Bitbuzz now has in excess of 700,000 registered users and is achieving 10,000 peak logins per day on busy days across the UK and Ireland.

Three expands free Bitbuzz Wi-Fi to all smartphones

2012-04-23T09:56:00.000+01:00

Three, Ireland’s largest high speed network and Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi Network Operator, today announce an agreement to expand their Wi-Fi offering to include all of Three’s smartphone customers for free! The agreement marks the most significant data offload deal to-date in Ireland.

Since July 2010, all Three’s iPhone customers have availed of free Wi-Fi through the Bitbuzz platform, but the service has now been expanded to include Three’s Android users. Apps for Three’s Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service are available in the iPhone App Store and Android Marketplace. As well as now being universally available across all of Three’s iPhones and Androids, the new offering covers both prepay and bill pay subscribers to Three.

Bitbuzz has also rolled out Wi-Fi hotspots to Three’s thirty retail stores in Ireland, meaning customers can try the safe, high-speed Wi-Fi offering before they buy. This is another significant development within the strategic partnership between Three Ireland and Bitbuzz.

Elaine Carey, Sales and Marketing Director at Three commented: “Three are delighted to expand our partnership with Bitbuzz, offering free Wi-Fi connectivity to all our smartphone customers. Three is committed to leading the smartphone marketplace forward and see this enhanced offering as not only offering our customers more choice but also continuing to deliver on this promise.”

“Following our success with the initial offering for iPhones, we are confident that the demand for free Wi-Fi will increase with our expansion across Three’s other smartphone customers,” said Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz. “It is very clear that Three has a real belief in Wi-Fi, and this agreement underscores that. It is also a fact that handhelds are a significant force in the explosion in demand for Wi-Fi.”

Bitbuzz now has in excess of 740,000 registered users and is achieving 10,000 peak logins per day across Ireland and the UK.

Notes:

Free Bitbuzz Wi-Fi applies to all Three smartphones with the exception of Blackberry
Click here for a full list of Bitbuzz hotspots in the Republic of Ireland

We're hiring: Account Management Executive

2012-02-20T15:52:00.000+00:00

Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator and operates at the leading edge of the Irish internet industry. We are currently looking for a bright, personable and motivated person for a newly created business development role.

This role involves managing a portfolio of existing customers in the coffee shop and café bar sector (75%). The role will also involve developing new leads, running direct marketing campaigns and some administration work (25%). You will work as part of our business development team alongside executives covering other sectors and report directly to the Business Development Director.

The role is ideally suited for someone with some prior account management experience and a proven track record in customer retention. We would also consider a new graduate or someone looking for a career change with exceptional skills and promise.

Responsibilities:

Managing and developing the on-going relationship with Bitbuzz Location Partners in your sector, including dealing with general queries from these Location Partners.
Providing staff training and managing Bitbuzz point-of-sale in Locations.
Negotiating new contract terms and fees with our Location Partners.
Working with each Location Partner to increase usage and revenue as well as introducing new products and services to our Location Partners.
Designing, writing and managing direct mail campaigns to prospective new Locations and following up on this activity.
Generating new business leads and following them up through the sales process

Required skills/experience (please do not apply unless you have all of these)

Demonstrable experience or interest in the internet, broadband & technology

Excellent presentation & writing skills.
Excellent telephone communication skills.
Good inter-personal skills.
Experience in account management, preferably in the telecommunication or hospitality environment.
Ability to work on your own initiative and to targets.
Strong negotiation skills
Full license and own transport.
Fluent English speaker.

Desirable skills /experience (you must have at least 1 of these)

Have used public Wi-Fi hotspots .

A third level qualification.

Excellent time management skills.

Good knowledge of the Irish hospitality industry (for example, significant amount of bar or coffee shop work).

Package will be appropriate for a candidate with relevant experience and will include mileage allowance.

This successful candidate will be based at our offices in Upper Mount Street, Dublin and will spend the majority of their time visiting new and existing customers throughout the country.

To apply for this job, please email your CV and a covering letter, in PDF format, to salespeople@bitbuzz.com. Bitbuzz is an equal opportunity employer.

Positive Operating Performance for Bitbuzz

2011-07-06T09:44:00.000+01:00

72% increase in registered users and rise in number of hotspots

Wednesday 6th July 2011: Bitbuzz (www.bitbuzz.com) Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator and an independent Irish-owned business, has announced operating figures revealing continued significant growth in subscriber numbers. Bitbuzz had a total of 466,000 registered users by the end of June 2011, a 31% growth from the 355,590 registered users at the end of December 2010. This represents a year-on-increase of 72% in registered users.

The total number of Bitbuzz Wi-Fi hotspots across the country at the end of June 2011 was 277 up from 245 at the end of 2010.

Experiencing steady growth throughout the year, Bitbuzz recorded an increase of 31% in the number of registered users in the first half of 2011, reflecting an equal proportion of growth when compared to the first half of 2010.

There has been a significant growth in the total number of logins per month for Bitbuzz, which now stands at 206,605, compared with the 99,657 logins at the end of 2010. The busiest time of day for logins on the Bitbuzz network is between 6pm and 7pm.

“We are very satisfied with the figures for 2011 so far and in particular the increase in our total number of hotspots, which is a significant achievement in a period that has seen a lot of hotels & coffee shops go out of business,” said Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz. “It is encouraging to know that despite closures and a very challenging economic environment, we managed to increase our number of hotspots. This we believe is a testament to the quality of our service to the end user, our technical competence and the revenue generating solutions we provide to our partners.”

The continued growth for Bitbuzz reflects an increase in usage in its daytime Wi-Fi venues and 3-Star hotels, and the increased popularity of smartphones and tablets such as the iPad. Bitbuzz is confident that this increase will continue throughout 2011 as the number of smart phone and tablet users in Ireland increases.

“In terms of the current year, our aim is to continue to develop our presence throughout Ireland, through the provision of a technically superior, accessible and good value Wi-Fi service,” said Shane Deasy. “As well as continuing to attract new subscribers to our service, we hope to forge more strategic B2B partnerships, that will provide both our partners and ourselves with revenue-generating Wi-Fi opportunities.”

“We recently launched our service in the UK market and have already secured 50 hotspots there. In the current year and in 2012, we expect to see our presence develop significantly in the UK market, which present a real opportunity for growth.”

New business contracts announced so far in 2011 have included deals in Ireland with the KFC restaurant chain, The Lucan Spa Hotel and Clane Hospital; and in the UK Ramada Hotels, Elegant English Hotels and Kensington Rooms, all of which have significantly helped the growth in registered user number for Bitbuzz.

(Ends)

Issued on behalf of Bitbuzz by Heneghan PR

Media Contacts:
Heneghan PR
Nigel Heneghan / Sorcha Mullis
Tel: +353 1 660 7395
Email: nigel@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie
Web: www.hpr.ie

About Bitbuzz
Founded in 2003, Bitbuzz is Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator, providing High Speed Wireless Internet Access services to roaming partners, location owners and direct users. Bitbuzz is the only wholly-owned Irish telecoms company focused entirely on the Wi-Fi market. The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires. Bitbuzz currently has over 250 Wi-Fi hotspots and over 7,000 hotel bedrooms in its network in Ireland and the UK, with further expansion planned for 2011 to meet growing demand. For more information visit: www.bitbuzz.com.

‘Operation Wi-Fi’ at Clane General Hospital! Bitbuzz Provide Wi-Fi to all In-Patients and Out-Patients

2011-05-25T11:36:00.000+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator has signed a deal to provide Wi-Fi internet access to patients at Clane General Hospital, Co Kildare.

There has been a huge increase in demand for Wi-Fi at the hospital from both in-patients and out-patients. Out-patients need a reliable Wi-Fi service in order to check their work emails and keep in touch with the office, while in-patients can update family and friends at home or overseas on their progress and access well wishing emails in an instant.

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manager, Bitbuzz, commented: “We are installing Wi-Fi hotspots and increasing coverage in areas around the country where we see a demand. In the information- and communication-rich society we live in it is extremely important for those who may need to go into hospital at the last minute, or for an extended stay, to have reliable access to their emails and the internet.”

Bitbuzz has been operating in Irish hospitals for over five years, including St Vincent’s Hospital, St James Hospital and Mater Private Hospital. However Clane is the first hospital in which Bitbuzz provides complete coverage throughout the establishment.

Sean Leyden, CEO, Clane General Hospital, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Bitbuzz to provide this service for our patients. It is important for those who are undergoing treatment to be able to have the support of their friends and family and to keep them updated on their progress. At Clane General Hospital we pride ourselves on demonstrating the highest standards of organisational management and service delivery, and we have no doubt that the quality of the Bitbuzz Wi-Fi will fit in with this philosophy.”

Bitbuzz Develop Wireless Printing Product for Hotels

2011-05-20T11:11:00.000+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland's largest independent Wi-Fi network operator has developed a wireless printing product to allow hotel guests to wirelessly print documents from anywhere in the hotel to a dedicated printer at the hotel reception.

The service does not require the user to download any additional software and it removes the potential risk of computer viruses being spread from the use of discs and USB keys.

Bitbuzz developed the product in response to requests from hotel managers, who reported an increase in demand from guests wanting to use the hotel reception printing facilities. Typical documents guests request to print include, flight boarding passes and information for conferences. However, hotels are reluctant to allow guests to plug in USB sticks into hotel PCs for fear that this 3rd party hardware could have a computer virus and would infect the hotel network.

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manager, Bitbuzz, said: “With our wireless printing product there is no need for software or USB drives and therefore no risk of computer viruses spreading to hotel computers from public devices. Guests who are connected to the Bitbuzz network, simple click to print their document as they would at home and then collect it at the hotel reception at their convenience. The guests computer will automatically see the ‘Bitbuzz Guest Printer’ in their list of printers so there is no need to install additional drivers. The service is compatible will all laptops and netbooks as well as all Apple AirPrint compatible devices such are the Apple iPhone and iPad.”

McQuillan continued: “We have built this product specially for our hotel customers who see a real demand for such a service, and we are the first company in Ireland to offer a solution in this way."

Ann Donaghy, General Manager, Ramada Hotel Portrush, one of the hotels currently using the wireless printing product, commented: “We are delighted that Bitbuzz can offer us this product, as we required a service that would allow us to provide for guests requesting printing facilities, but also protect our systems from malicious software. We previously offered a Wi-Fi service to guests with BTOpenzone, but Bitbuzz’s Wireless Printing product, as well as their quality offering, is the reason we switched to their service.”

Bitbuzz Celebrates Continued Expansion in the UK as it Announces its Fiftieth Hotspot

2011-04-13T12:38:00.000+01:00

Wi-Fi company now looking to recruit three staff in the UK to help expand their operations in the market

Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator and an independent Irish-owned business is today celebrating its fiftieth hotspot in the UK. Bitbuzz announced their expansion into the UK market in June 2010 following on from the success of its Irish operation. Since then they have shifted their focus to the London market, and have successfully piloted their Wi-Fi product in a number of hotels in the Kensington area. Bitbuzz are now looking to recruit three staff to help expand their operations in the hugely competitive UK market. Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manger Bitbuzz, commented: “We are extremely proud of the progress we have made in the UK market. We currently have 29 hotel locations and 24 coffee brand locations across the UK; spanning London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Derry and Belfast. As a large proportion of the population are now connected, either by smartphones or tablets, with this comes an increase in demand from consumers for reliable Wi-Fi access. As this demand continues, we are confident that we can keep the momentum going and continue to secure new Wi-Fi hotspots over the coming months.” The leading Wi-Fi operator has injected much-needed competition into the UK Wi-Fi market. Amongst Bitbuzz’s key UK clients are Ibis Hotels, Elegant English Hotels, Travelodge, StayCity Apartments, Kensington Rooms, Ramada, KFC, Costa Coffee, and The Lough Erne Resort, the only AA International 5 star hotel in Northern Ireland. Earlier this year, Bitbuzz announced operating figures for 2010 revealing continued growth in revenue and subscriber numbers. Bitbuzz experienced a 17% increase in revenue to €1.1 million in 2010 (€938,000 in 2009). The company had a total of 355,590 registered users by the end of December, a year-on-year increase of 65% in registered users.

Bitbuzz Rolls-Out Wi-Fi Deal to KFC Restaurants

2011-03-30T14:26:00.001+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator is pleased to announce that they have been awarded an exclusive contract to provide Wi-Fi to KFC restaurants in both Ireland and Scotland. Bitbuzz is continuing its successful relationship with MBCC foods, the parent company of KFC and Costa Coffee; a client of Bitbuzz since August 2010. Customers enjoying Colonel Harland Sanders’ famous Kentucky Fried Chicken can now avail of 20 minutes complimentary Bitbuzz Wi-Fi access, giving them the opportunity to connect with friends or surf the net, simply by redeeming a complimentary voucher at the counter with their purchase. Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manager, Bitbuzz, commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with MBCC Foods following on from our successful roll-out to provide Wi-Fi to all Costa Coffee stores in Northern Ireland. There has been a huge increase in demand for Wi-Fi in locations such as this over the past year. Two years ago we would not have predicted that people would use Wi-Fi in fast food outlets, but with the rise in popularity of the iPhone, iPads and Android smartphones, there is defiantly a requirement for high quality Wi-Fi access anywhere customers spend time” Nick Whiddett, IT and Distribution Manager, MBCC Foods (KFC), commented: “We are extremely happy to be offering our customers 20 minutes complimentary Wi-Fi with any purchase. There has been very positive feedback from customers using the Bitbuzz service in our Costa Coffee locations, and we are confident that Bitbuzz will provide the same level of quality to KFC customers. We have previously used other service providers in our KFC stores including Eircom in Ireland and BT Openzone in Scotland, but the Bitbuzz offering is far superior in terms of user experience, reliability and support services.” The KFC outlets offering complimentary Bitbuzz Wi-Fi include: Ireland Athlone Carlow Cork (Eastgate) Cork (Redforge) Clonmel Dublin (Citywest Shopping Centre) Dublin (Omni Shopping Centre, Santry) Kilkenny Tullamore Waterford Galway Scotland Edinburgh (Nicholson St) Edinburgh (Meadowbank Retail Park) Livingston

Bitbuzz Appoints Des Kenny as Account Manager

2011-03-29T14:50:00.002+01:00

Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator today announced the appointment of Des Kenny as an Account Manager. Des will be responsible for managing and developing business for Bitbuzz in daytime venues such as café bars and coffee shops. Prior to joining Bitbuzz, Des held the position of Client Account Manger at Payback Loyalty Systems for two years. Des also previously worked as an Application Support Analyst for Payback Loyalty Systems for over one year. Des holds a B.Sc in IT, a B.A., and an M.A from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz commented: “We are delighted to have Des Kenny join the team at Bitbuzz. His appointment marks further growth in our client portfolio as we require separate management teams for our daytime venues, such as coffee shops, bars and café franchises; and our hotel portfolio.”

Leading Wi-Fi Network Operator Bitbuzz Announce Positive Results for 2010

2011-03-02T14:20:00.000+00:00

65% increase in registered users and 17% increase in revenue to €1.1 million

Bitbuzz, Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network operator and an independent Irish-owned business has announced operating figures for 2010, revealing continued growth in revenue and subscriber numbers. Bitbuzz experienced a 17% increase in revenue to €1.1 million in 2010 (€938,000 in 2009). The company had a total of 355,590 registered users by the end of December, a year-on-year increase of 65%.

The total number of Bitbuzz Wi-Fi hotspots across the country at the end of December 2010 was 245, up from 204 at the end of 2009.

Experiencing steady growth throughout the year, Bitbuzz recorded an increase of 31% in the number of registered users in the second half of 2010, reflecting an equal proportion of growth when compared to the first half of 2010.

“We are very satisfied with the figures for 2010 and in particular the increase in our total number of hotspots, which was difficult in a year that saw a lot of hotels & coffee shops go out of business,” said Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz. “It is encouraging to know that, despite closures and a very challenging economic environment, we still increased our number of hotspots.”

“The Wi-Fi index reached a high of 297 at the end of December, up from 135 for the same period in 2009. This continued growth reflects an increase in usage in our daytime Wi-Fi venues and 3-Star hotels, and of course, as a result of the increased popularity of smartphones and tablets such as the iPad. We are confident that this figure will continue to increase throughout 2011 as the number of smart phone users in Ireland increases. ”

“In terms of the current year, our aim is to continue to develop our presence throughout Ireland, through the provision of a technically superior, accessible and good value Wi-Fi service. As well as continuing to attract new subscribers to our service, we hope to forge more strategic B2B partnerships, that will provide both our partners and ourselves with revenue-generating Wi-Fi opportunities,” said Shane Deasy. “We recently launched our service in the UK market and have already secured 50 hotspots there. I think in 2011 we will see our presence develop significantly in the UK.”

New business contracts announced by Bitbuzz during 2010 included deals with O2 Ireland, 3 Ireland, the Carlton Hotel Group, Druids Glen Resort Hotel, Costa Coffee, and an upgraded hotspot at the Merrion Hotel and the Guinness Storehouse - all of which have contributed significantly to the growth in registered users of Bitbuzz Wi-Fi.

Position filled - Account Management Executive

2010-11-22T10:37:00.001+00:00

Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator and operates at the leading edge
of the Irish Internet industry. We are currently looking for a bright, personable and
motivated person for a new [business development role].

This role involves managing a portfolio of existing customers in the coffee shop
and café bar sector . The role will also involve developing new leads, running direct
marketing campaigns and some administration work. You will work as part of our
Site Management team alongside executives covering other sectors.

The role is ideally suited for someone with prior account management experience but
with a proven track record in customer retention.

Responsibilities:
• Managing and developing the on-going relationship with Bitbuzz Location
Partners in your sector, including dealing with general queries from location
partners,
• Providing staff training and managing Bitbuzz point-of-sale in locations.
• Negotiating new contract terms and fees with our Location Partners.
• Working with each Location Partner to increase usage and revenue as well as
introducing new products and services to our Location Partners.
• Designing, writing and managing direct mail campaigns to prospective new
locations and following up on this activity.

Required skills/experience (please do not apply unless you have all of these)
• Demonstrable experience or interest in the internet, broadband & technology
• Excellent presentation & writing skills.
• Excellent telephone communication skills.
• Good inter-personal skills.
• Experience in sales or account management, preferably in the
telecommunication or hospitality environment.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and to targets.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Full license and own transport.
• Native English speaker.

Desirable skills /experience (you must have at least 1 of these)
• Have used public Wi-Fi hotspots .
• A third level qualification.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Good knowledge of the Irish hospitality industry (for example, significant
amount of bar or coffee shop work).

Salary will be appropriate for a candidate with 2 years relevant experience.

This successful candidate will be based at our offices in Upper Mount Street, Dublin
and will spend a portion of their time visiting customers throughout Dublin and the
rest of the country.
To apply for this job, please email your CV and a covering letter, in either Word or

PDF format, to people@bitbuzz.com. Bitbuzz is an equal opportunity employer.

Bitbuzz is hiring!

2010-11-04T12:55:00.000+00:00

Wi-Fi Engineer - 6 month contract

Bitbuzz is Ireland's leading Wi-Fi network; we carry over half of Ireland's public Wi-Fi traffic as well as having significant operations in Northern Ireland. We have also recently expanded into the London hotel market.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated and technically knowledgeable person to join our engineering team. The role consists of:

* Performing Wi-Fi surveys of potential client sites (hotels, cafes etc)
* Configuring equipment (access points, routers, switches, modems)
* Visiting sites to install our systems as well as performing regular testing and maintenance
* Providing technical assistance by telephone and email to our customers

You will be based in our office in central Dublin. However, you will be out of the office working on customer sites approx 3-4 days per week. This will include at least one overnight stay per week. We provide a flexible working environment but expect flexibility when travel or occasionally working late is required.

The position is initially for a full-time fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extending/renewing the contract.

Requirements (please do not apply unless you have ALL of these):

* Experience configuring and installing modems, routers, switches etc
* Good knowledge of Windows (XP/Vista/7), in particular internet settings
* Experience in debugging internet connection issues (modem problems, internet settings or similar)
* Fluent spoken English
* Excellent telephone manner
* Full clean EU driving license
* A genuine interest in technology
* You must already be authorised to work in Ireland

Desirable skills (you should have at least one of these; the more the better):

* Knowledge of Mac OS X
* Working knowledge of Linux or FreeBSD (user-level commands, network diagnostics, etc)
* Good knowledge of TCP/IP theory and practice
* Experience of data cabling
* Experience of DSL installation/setup

TO APPLY

- Please send your CV in PDF or plain text (.txt) format *only* to techpeople@bitbuzz.com
- Applications sent to other email addresses, or in other formats, will be dropped
- Recruitment companies may NOT contact us about this position

Bitbuzz launches its first outdoor Wi-Fi network at Dingle Marina in partnership with іLink

2009-12-01T11:26:00.005+00:00

Tuesday 1^st December 2009: Bitbuzz, Ireland's largest independent Wi-Fi network operator in collaboration with wireless systems integrator firm iLink, has announced the launch of its first large open-area hotspot. The network will provide internet access to visitors and residents at the Marina and surrounding area in Dingle, Co Kerry.

Bitbuzz and iLink have developed an outdoor wireless mesh solution to provide Wi-Fi access at this popular tourist destination in the South-West of Ireland. The partnership between Bitbuzz and iLink is an ideal collaboration. iLink have built the outdoor network using next generation wireless mesh Wi-Fi technology, while Bitbuzz will manage the Wi-Fi service, enabling new and existing Bitbuzz customers to access managed internet from anywhere in the Dingle Marina.

Shane Deasy, Managing Director, Bitbuzz, said: “We are delighted to be working with iLink on this trial project to provide a reliable outdoor Wi-Fi service to visitors and locals alike in Dingle. Depending on its success, we hope to roll out the service to other outdoor tourist locations around the country. So far we are extremely satisfied with the usage in the area, considering it is off season.”

Philip Curneen, Director of іLink commented: “The demand for Wi-Fi access is increasing everywhere. Dingle is visited by nearly 750,000 people every year by bus, car, bike and yacht so we decided to provide easy access to outdoor Wi-Fi in the Marina and surrounding area as a value added service. While people come to Dingle to experience the scenery and general enjoyment in the area they now have access to Wi-Fi as well. iLink are delighted to collaborate with Bitbuzz , the leading WiFi provider in Ireland , on this project and based on usage to date we are sure it will be a success. ”

(Ends)

Issued on behalf of Bitbuzz by Heneghan PR:

Media Contact:

Heneghan PR

Nigel Heneghan / Louise McNamee

Tel: 01 660 7395

Email: nigel@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie

About Bitbuzz

Founded in 2003, Bitbuzz is Ireland's largest independent Wi-Fi network operator, providing High Speed Wireless Internet Access services to roaming partners, location owners and direct users. Bitbuzz is the only wholly-owned Irish telecoms company focused entirely on the Wi-Fi market.

The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled laptop to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires. Bitbuzz currently has over 190 Wi-Fi hotspots in its network in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with further expansion planned for 2009 to meet growing demand.

About іLink

іLink (www.ilink.ie) is a Wireless Systems Integrator firm with a focus on present and next generation Wireless Mesh Networks. іLink, located at the Kerry Technology Park, has a team of in-house and associate engineers and technicians with many years of experience in ICT, computer networking and communications. The Dingle wifi іZone was built using best of breed Wireless Mesh Network technology.

We're hiring! Business Development Manager – United Kingdom

2009-11-24T15:09:00.000+00:00

Bitbuzz is an established and growing company operating at the leading edge of the Irish internet industry. As Ireland's leading Wi-Fi provider, Bitbuzz provides its service in many different public locations such as hotels, cafes and bars throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We have ambitious plans for 2010 including the expansion of our Wi-Fi network into Britain. We are looking for a bright, personable and motivated person to become our new Business Development Manager for Great Britain.

Based in London, the role of the Business Development Manager involves sourcing leads and subsequently managing these leads through the sales process to closing. You will also be involved in the setting up of our regional presence and the marketing of our business to the UK hospitality industry. This is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with experience in selling into the UK hotel industry or perhaps working in a sales role within a hotel, to develop your sales and management skills.

Required skills/experience (please do not apply unless you have all of these)

Demonstrable experience or interest in the internet, broadband & technology.
Demonstrable sales success in a competitive environment.
Excellent presentation & writing skills.
Excellent telephone communication skills.
Excellent time management skills.
At least two years experience of sales in the internet or hospitality environment.
Ability to work on your own initiative and to targets.
Strong negotiation skills
Excellent inter-personal skills.

Desirable skills /experience (you must have at least 1 of these)

A third level qualification.
Good knowledge of the UK hotel industry; experience selling into the hotel industry is also an advantage.

Salary will be appropriate for a candidate with 2-3 years experience in the sales field. The package will include a bonus and commission structure in addition to a basic salary.

To apply for this job, please email your CV and a covering letter, in either Word or PDF format, to people@bitbuzz.com. Please include a short cover letter. Bitbuzz is an equal opportunity employer.

Bitbuzz supports Movember

2009-11-04T17:32:00.003+00:00

1 November 2009

We're growing moustaches this year for Movember! Bitbuzz staff have decided to put down our razors for one month (November) and help raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer.

Movember is now in its second year here in Ireland and, the first year already saw some great results by working alongside The Irish Cancer Society. Further details are available at: http://ie.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

The money raised will go to the Irish Cancer Society's Protate Cancer fund and Bitbuzz will match all money raised by our staff towards this excellent cause.

Men have a 1 in 12 chance of developing prostate cancer during the course of their lifetime and prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer in Ireland. Facts like these have convinced us to get involved.

Donations can be made at this address http://ie.movember.com/mospace/12502/ using your credit card or debit card

If you are interested in following the progress of our Mos, click http://ie.movember.com/mospace/12502/. Also, http://ie.movember.com has heaps of useful information.