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SPARKPLUG, TELESPECTRA AND PRAIRIE INET MERGE TO SERVE HIGH GROWTH WIRELESS BUSINESS BROADBAND MARKETS Newly formed Sparkplug Inc. provides high-speed wireless data across eight states in the Midwest, Southwest CHICAGO, IL; DES MOINES, IA and PHOENIX, AZ – 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 Scottsdale, Ariz. The combined entity has operations and networks across eight states, making it among the largest in the emerging wireless business broadband market. "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 partner 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. Each brings different complementary core strengths to the combined organization. Sparkplug (www.sparkplugbroadband.com) 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.net), 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. For more information, please visit www.sparkpluginc.net. Sparkplug management team Bill Malloy is U.S. Managing Director of Sparkplug Inc. 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. A wireless industry advocate, Mullholland has appeared before the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce and many industry forums. 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
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