Nomadix

Nomadix, Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Networking hardware
Founded	1998 (1998)
Founder	Dr. Leonard Kleinrock, Joel Short
Headquarters	Woodland Hills , United States
Products	Network gateway solutions for hotels and businesses
Parent	Assa Abloy (since 2024)

Nomadix, Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in network gateway solutions designed to provide Internet connectivity for hotels and various businesses. The company, headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, became a subsidiary of Assa Abloy after its acquisition in 2024.

History

Nomadix distributes its technology through partners targeting hospitality clients with guest Wi-Fi networks, including establishments such as the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, event organizers like those at the 2014 World Cup, residential complexes, and other public locations.

Established in 1998 by UCLA Computer Science Professor Dr. Leonard Kleinrock, a key figure in the development of ARPANET, alongside graduate student Joel Short, the company’s name is inspired by Kleinrock’s work on nomadic computing concepts. Kleinrock held the roles of CEO and chairman, while Short acted as CTO.

The initial offering from Nomadix, the Universal Subscriber Gateway, debuted in September 1999. This product allowed visitors to connect effortlessly to the Internet without needing extra software and included integrated payment gateway capabilities for optional billing services.

In February 2002, Nomadix licensed its Nomadix Service Engine (NSE) software to Agere Systems (now part of Avago Technologies), which was then ranked as the second-largest Wi-Fi hardware provider. The subsequent month saw a collaboration with Boingo Wireless to adapt the Universal Subscriber Gateway for deployment in commercial Wi-Fi hotspot environments.

In January 2004, Nomadix earned the first patent within the industry for technology enabling user redirection to a sign-in or "gateway" page—a fundamental component of network access management systems.

June 2012 marked the launch of the AG 5800 access gateway, engineered specifically for high-capacity venues. Later, in March 2016, Nomadix entered into an exclusive alliance with WAN optimization firm Exinda to enhance offerings within the hospitality market.

The March 2024 acquisition by Swedish multinational Assa Abloy broadened Nomadix’s international reach and enriched its suite of products focused on hotel Wi-Fi infrastructure and guest interaction platforms.

Acquisitions & sales

In December 2006, Singapore-based MagiNet, a provider of wireless hospitality technologies across the Asia Pacific region, acquired Nomadix but maintained operations under the original brand name.

A year later, in December 2007, MagiNet itself was purchased by DOCOMO interTouch Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan's NTT DOCOMO, for $150 million.

Lawsuits

In July 2004, competitor IP3 Networks initiated a trade libel lawsuit against Nomadix; however, this case was dismissed by February 2006.

Nomadix filed suit in March 2007 against Second Rule—successor to IP3's NetAccess gateway—for infringement on five patents. The court ruled in favor of Nomadix in March 2009, awarding $3.2 million in damages along with a permanent injunction.

In November 2009, Nomadix launched patent infringement actions against eight companies including Hewlett Packard, Wayport, iBAHN, LodgeNet, and Aruba Networks, seeking both financial compensation and injunctions related to eight patents.

Hewlett Packard reached a settlement in November 2012 agreeing to pay licensing fees. AT&T (owner of Wayport and Superclick) followed with a settlement in March 2013; Aruba Networks settled similarly in September 2013—both entering into licensing agreements.

In October 2014, Nomadix initiated litigation against Blueprint RF over alleged patent violations concerning captive portal technology. The US District Court upheld Nomadix’s patent claims against Blueprint RF in February 2016.