AMSTERDAM: T-Systems, a unit Deutsche Telekom, is linking together 10,000 locations for wireless computer access and aims to connect half of the world's public hotspots to a seamless network, it said.

The company in February began to connect wireless LAN (WLAN) hotspots -- found in coffee bars, airports and hotels -- from different providers across all continents.

Its roaming service has been set up for business travelers who want fast wireless access to the Internet on their laptop computers, but who do not want to sign up and pay separately every time they log on.

Hotels and conference centers in Europe typically ask between five and 10 euros for one hour of WLAN access, also known as Wi-Fi. Hotspots connected by T-Systems allow subscribers of one service to log onto any of the other 120 participating services and pay one bill at the end of the month, similar to the international roaming agreements between cellular operators.

"We have 10,000 hotspots signed or under negotiation. Our strategy is to become the leader in WiFi roaming. We would be content when we come to the point where we have half of the hotspots that exist," said product manager Christian Wollner.

The number of public hotspots worldwide is expected to grow to 135,000 by late 2006 from some 35,000 at end-2003, according to estimates by Datamonitor.

T-Systems, through its International Carrier Sales & Solutions unit, does not operate hotspots itself. It focuses on tying together hotspots from different providers, including those owned by sister companies within Deutsche Telekom.

"We do not have the intention to acquire any hotspots ourselves," Wollner said in a telephone interview.

This position allows T-Systems to work with many different telecom operators, which have come to realize they cannot cover the world with their own hotspots.

A linked system, however, will allow business travelers to use the WLAN hotspot in an airport, for example, then continue to work on the plane over the Connexion WLAN network from aircraft maker Boeing, and finish work in a hotel room.

As well as manually selecting the WLAN providers from the host company page, the connection could be made automatically with software on the laptop or a SIM card, similar to mobile phones. This has been tested in trials, but is not yet commercial.

Wollner believes prices for WLAN will drop in Europe, to come more in line with lower levels in the United States.

"I don't think it will be free of charge, but the very high prices in Europe will have to come down," he said.