Getting e-mail at the Games

OK, maybe it won't be the first thing, but you'll at least be able to get it without having to cringe in fear when you get your phone bill. iPass Inc. has added a local Internet service provider to its roster of companies that allow roaming Internet service.

iPass, based in Mountain View, Calif., specializes in Internet-based services. The roaming Internet offering allows ISPs to arrange for e-mail to be transferred between them safely so that they can offer users local access numbers when they travel.

Currently, iPass has about 250 ISP customers in 150 countries. The addition of NTT PC Communications Inc. adds a point of presence, or POP, in Nagano, just in time for the Games. "We had coverage in Japan prior to this," said Brad Solso, chief financial officer of iPass. "This deal gives us an additional 20 POPs in Japan."

Solso said data is encrypted when it's being passed between ISPs to ensure security. iPass offers a "dial wizard" to help users find a local number in their area and connect to it. ISPs typically charge a premium for the roaming service, usually between 5 and 20 cents per minute, Solso said. But he said that premium is generally cheaper than a long-distance phone call.