Wi-Fi will soon be powering Hertz counters in airports all over the place once Wayport gets into the game. The partnership between the two companies was very much of mutual desire.

The partnership is designed to enable Hertz to enjoy the goodness that can come from co-branding, but I have to wonder if there will be any hidden surprises down the road. Two companies teaming up like this is not all that different from taking on a new roommate. Now we all now how that sort of thing can turn out.

Wayport adds Hertz rental car counters to Wi-Fi World; navigation systems will show Wayport locations: On Tuesday, Wayport will announce a deal with the Hertz Corporation that allows Wayport to operate service at more than 50 Hertz rental car counters and waiting areas at airports in the U.S. The Hertz locations will be part of Wayport’s Wi-Fi World, a set of retail and customer-facing chain locations that are resold to service aggregators at a fixed monthly cost instead of a per-session rate. SBC is an early customer for Wi-Fi World, and will have the opportunity to add Hertz locations to their current pool of Wayport hotspots.

Wayport picked Hertz as a partners as much as vice-versa. Dan Lowden, Wayport’s vice president of marketing, “We’ve been talking to a lot of different brands, and we’ve selected key brands in each category that we’re going after.” Hertz is the leading brand for airport rental cars, especially in light of their premium business members. Wi-Fi service will be available both in parking lots and waiting areas, allowing a traveler to access the service before getting out of the car on return or leaving the lot.