The Cloud - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Cloud, a BSkyB subsidiary, is a provider of public access

Internet access

Many technologies and service plans for Internet access allow customers to connect to the Internet.Consumer use first became popular through dial-up connections in the 20th century....

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...

hotspot

Hotspot (Wi-Fi)

A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider...

s in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. It has services operating across 7,000 locations with 22,000 Wi-Fi network access point

Network access point

A Network Access Point was a public network exchange facility where Internet Service Providers connected with one another in peering arrangements. The NAPs were a key component in the transition from the NSFNET era when many networks were government sponsored and commercial traffic was prohibited...

s in 12 European countries.
The Cloud has offices in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, Munich

Munich

Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...

, and Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

Timeline

Year	Event
Jan 2003	The Cloud is founded
Mar 2003	The Cloud's network begins roll-out
Apr 2003	BT Openzone becomes the first Service Provider on the Cloud network
May 2003	Network reaches 1000 sites
Dec 2003	The Cloud wins the Brainheart European Wi-Fi Award 2003
Jan 2005	Roll out begins in Nordics
Sep 2004	Integrated WLAN and 3G service launched for 02
Feb 2005	Airnyx acquired in Germany
May 2005	Roll out begins in Germany
July 2005	Net Chek-In acquired in Germany
Sept 2005	Exilan acquired
Dec 2005	The World Economic Forum Announces New Class of Technology Pioneers for 2006: The Cloud Networks Selected
Dec 2005	Canova Wireless acquired in the UK
Apr 2006	iPass joins the network
Sep 2006	Telenor partners with The Cloud Nordics
Jan 2007	Steve Nicholson joins the Cloud as CEO
Oct 2007	McDonald’s takes free Wi-Fi mainstream with The Cloud
Jan 2008	Acquisition of hotel Wi-Fi specialist GANAG in Germany
Oct 2008	€15 million funding round from Ferd Ventures, existing investors and GP Bullhound
Dec 2008	Roll out new user centric service platform
Jun 2009	The Company moves its UK Headquarters to St Albans
Sep 2009	Cloud network locator launched for the iPhone
Oct 2009	Launch of new Palm Pre mobile smartphone with the Cloud / O2
Jan 2010	Naunton Dickins joins the company as UK Managing Director
Jan 2010	FastConnect is launched to make Wi-Fi universally simple
Jan 2011	Acquired by BSkyB
Aug 2011	The Cloud becomes exclusive free hotspot provider for Telefónica Germany