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NEWS RELEASE
Newly formed Sparkplug Inc. provides high-speed
wireless data across eight states in the Midwest,
Southwest
CHICAGO, DES MOINES, Iowa and PHOENIX -- July
11, 2006 -- Sparkplug Inc. (www.sparkpluginc.net)
today announced its formation as a result of the
merger of three established companies offering
wireless business broadband services in the Midwest
and Southwestern United States: Sparkplug in Chicago,
Prairie iNet in Des Moines, Iowa and Telespectra
in Phoenix. The combined entity has operations
and networks across eight states, making it among
the largest in the emerging wireless business
broadband market.Ê
"Our business customers are moving more
data than ever. They demand scaleable high-speed
connections that are affordable, reliable and
quick to provision, plus come with responsive
customer service," said Bill Malloy, currently
CEO of Sparkplug. All three companies deliver
on this today, and that's why businesses are choosing
us. Through the merger we are announcing today,
the new company is well-positioned to meet these
needs for more businesses in existing or new markets.
At the core of the three companies offerings
are wireless broadband networks built and managed
by Sparkplug that give customers a compelling
addition to traditional wired networks. In addition
to high-speed point-to-multi-point broadband access,
the company offers a range of specialized point-to-point
data transport services to connect business and
enterprise customers throughout metropolitan areas
or across states.
Compared to traditional wired networks, Sparkplug's
wireless networks offer customers significant
advantages. These include lower costs, higher
symmetrical speeds, improved reliability and much
greater flexibility. For example, customers can
cost-effectively scale their bandwidth from 1
Mbps to 200 Mbps. For many customers the company's
wireless broadband can supplement existing telecom
services to provide extra capacity, redundancy
and reliability for services such as Internet
access, VOIP, video and other advanced IP services.
Experienced team
Each of the three companies comprising Sparkplug
brings a growth-oriented business model and a
proven ability to meet customer demand. At the
helm of the companies are experienced telecommunications
industry veterans with track records of leadership
and a shared market vision.
Under the new structure, Malloy, currently CEO
of Sparkplug, leads the organization and brings
an extensive background in wireless as a senior
executive with McCaw Cellular/AT&T Wireless
and as venture partnerÊ with Ignition Partners.
He is joined by Jeff Hardesty, currently CEO of
Telespectra and formerly CFO of wireless provider,
Extend America; and Neil Mulholland, CEO and founder
of Prairie iNet. The company's chairman is Steve
Hooper, a founding partner of Ignition Partners,
former CEO of AT&T Wireless and, most recently,
CEO of Nextlink Communications.
Complementary core strengths
The principals of Sparkplug, Prairie iNet and
Telespectra have known each other professionally
over the past several years. ÊEach brings
different complementary core strengths to the
combined organization.
Sparkplug has been successful in providing wireless
broadband services to businesses in two high-density
metropolitan areas - Chicago and Nashville, Tenn.
Prairie iNet (www.prairieinet.net), one of the
nation's top wireless Internet service providers,
has successfully deployed and supported a wireless
data network in multiple markets for the past
six years. In many ways, we have been working
together closely for years," said Mulholland,
CEO of Prairie iNet. "Not only do we share
a common vision, but the companies complement
each other well, with each bringing unique capabilities
to make us better as a combined entity."
Telespectra (www.telespectra.com), one of the
largest broadband networks for business in the
Southwest, brings more than 20 years of successful
wireless network deployment for business, government
and telecommunications carriers. The Telespectra
network extends from Arizona to New Mexico, Colorado,
Nevada and Southern California.
"As businesses deploy more IP-based services
that are mission critical, scaleable high-quality
committed bandwidth is a key enabler", said
Jeff Hardesty, CEO of Telespectra. "This
merger lets us extend our operational expertise
in meeting these needs to more business customers
across the combined company."
The merger of the three companies was led by
Ignition Partners (www.ignitionpartners.com),
a premier venture capital firm focused on investments
in software and communications technology headquartered
in Bellevue, Wash., along with The Greenspun Corporation,
a privately-owned company headquartered in Henderson,
Nevada, which holds a strong regional presence
in media, communications, travel and tourism,
gaming and technology.
Even with all of the capital invested in telecom
infrastructure over the past decade, today's businesses
have fewer choices than you think for affordable
high-speed last-mile data connectivity that's
easily scaleable," said Steve Hooper of Ignition
Partners and Sparkplug chairman. "Through
this merger Sparkplug brings together an established
reputation of serving this market, coupled with
the organizational and management clout it needs
to meet the bandwidth needs of business customers
around the country.
About Sparkplug Inc.
With wireless network across eight states, including
Illinois, Iowa, Arizona, Tennessee, Nevada, New
Mexico, Colorado and California, Sparkplug Inc.
ranks among the nation‰€™s leading
providers of wireless business broadband services.
Wireless networks built and managed by the company
provide enterprise customers with a diverse connection
from traditional wired networks. In addition to
offering scaleable high-speed point-to-multi-point
broadband access, the company offers a range of
specialized point-to-point data transport services
to connect businesses, government and carrier
customers throughout metropolitan areas or across
states.
Sparkplug management team
Bill Malloy is U.S. Managing Director of Sparkplug
Inc.Ê A venture partner with Ignition Partners
since 2002, Malloy has more than 20 years of technology
and wireless telecom experience. Previously he
served as CEO of two Internet companies, WorldStream
Communications and Peapod. In addition he had
an 11-year career in senior operating roles with
McCaw/AT&T Wireless, most recently as executive
vice president of U.S. wireless operations.
Malloy is a graduate of Washburn University and
Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School
of Management where he graduated from the Kellogg
Management Institute.
Jeff Hardesty is Southwest Managing Director
of Sparkplug Inc. Most recently CEO of Telespectra,
Hardesty joined the company in early 2005 with
more than 17 years of finance experience in the
telecommunications industry as an operator, investor
and investment banker for cellular, PCS, rural
local exchange carriers, inter-exchange carriers
and fixed wireless companies. Just prior to Telespectra,
Hardesty served as CFO for Extend America, a Nextel
service provider. In addition, he was managing
director at Koch Ventures and vice president at
First Union Capital Markets, where he led the
investment of growth and acquisition capital in
more than 50 telecommunications and media companies.
Hardesty graduated summa cum laude from Wichita
State University with a bachelor's degree in business
and holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua
School of Business.
Neil Mulholland is Midwest Managing Director
of Sparkplug Inc. A co-founder, equity investor
and chairman and CEO of Prairie iNet, he was responsible
for driving Prairie iNet's strategic direction,
overseeing the company's financial, administrative
and investor relations functions and managing
the company's overall operations.Ê A wireless
industry advocate, Mullholland has appeared before
the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S.
Department of Commerce and many industry forums.Ê
He also serves on the board of directors of Toronto-based
Barrett XplorNET, the largest wireless Internet
service provider in Canada. Prior to founding
Prairie iNet, he was the senior vice president
of Los Angeles-based Cushman Realty Corp.
Mulholland graduated from Iowa State University
with a bachelor's degree in industrial administration
and construction engineering.
Media Inquiries
Megan McKenzie, McKenzie Worldwide
503.470.0197
meganm@mckenzieworldwide.com
Brian Edwards, McKenzie Worldwide
503.577.4583
briane@mckenzieworldwide.com
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