Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation

Basis of presentation

The accompanying interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are unaudited. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2013 contained in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2014. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and our financial position as of March 31, 2014. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire year or any other future year or interim period.

Principles of consolidation

Principles of consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our majority owned subsidiaries. We consolidate our 70% ownership of Concourse Communications Detroit, LLC, our 70% ownership of Chicago Concourse Development Group, LLC and our 75% ownership of Boingo Holding Participacoes Ltda. in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation. Other parties’ interests in consolidated entities are reported as non-controlling interests. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Business combinations

Business combinations

The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Purchase accounting results in assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill.

The Company performs valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for a business acquisition and allocates the purchase price to its respective net tangible and intangible assets. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenues and cash flows, discount rates, royalty rates and selection of comparable companies. The Company engages the assistance of valuation specialists in concluding on fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred, and are included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. There were no significant transaction costs associated with business combinations for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Transaction costs associated with business combinations were $158 for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

Segment and geographic information

Segment and geographical information

We operate as one reportable segment; a service provider of mobile Internet solutions across our managed and operated network and aggregated network for mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablet computers and other wireless-enabled consumer devices. This single segment is consistent with the internal organization structure and the manner in which operations are reviewed and managed by our Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker.

Revenue is predominately generated and all significant long-lived tangible assets are held in the U.S. We do not disclose sales by geographic area because to do so would be impracticable. The following is a summary of our revenue by primary revenue source:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2014		2013
Revenue:
Wholesale	$	11,123	$	11,555
Retail subscription	8,294		8,067
Retail single-use	2,536		2,586
Advertising and other	4,499		926
Total revenue	$	26,452	$	23,134

Marketable securities

Marketable securities

Our marketable securities consist of available-for-sale securities with original maturities exceeding three months. In accordance with FASB ASC 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities, we have classified securities, which have readily determinable fair values and are highly liquid, as short-term because such securities are expected to be realized within a one-year period. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had $37,286 and $32,962, respectively, in marketable securities, all of which are classified as short-term.

Marketable securities are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses reported as other comprehensive income (loss) until realized or until a determination is made that an other-than-temporary decline in market value has occurred. No significant unrealized gains and losses have been reported during the periods presented. Factors considered by us in assessing whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred include the nature of the investment, whether the decline in fair value is attributable to specific adverse conditions affecting the investment, the financial condition of the investee, the severity and the duration of the impairment and whether we have the ability to hold the investment to maturity. When it is determined that an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the investment is written down to its market value at the end of the period in which it is determined that an other-than-temporary decline has occurred. The cost of marketable securities sold is based upon the specific identification method. Any realized gains or losses on the sale of investments are reflected as a component of interest and other income, net.

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we had no significant realized or unrealized gains or losses from investments in marketable securities classified as available-for-sale.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition

We generate revenue from several sources including: (i) platform service arrangements with wholesale customers that provide software licensing, network access, and professional services fees, (ii) wholesale customers that are telecom operators under long-term contracts for access to our DAS at our managed and operated locations, (iii) retail customers under subscription plans for month-to-month network access that automatically renew, and retail single-use access from sales of hourly, daily or other single-use access plans, and (iv) display advertisements and sponsorships on our walled garden sign-in pages. Software licensed by our wholesale platform services customers can only be used during the term of the service arrangements and has no utility to them upon termination of the service arrangement.

We recognize revenue when an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, fees are fixed or determinable, no significant obligations remain related to the earned fees and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured.

Services provided to wholesale partners under platform service arrangements generally contain several elements including: (i) a term license to use our software to access our Wi-Fi network, (ii) access fees for network usage, and (iii) professional services for software integration and customization and to maintain the Wi-Fi service. The term license, monthly minimum network access fees and professional services are billed on a monthly basis based upon predetermined fixed rates. Once the term license for integration and customization are delivered, the fees from the arrangement are recognized ratably over the remaining term of the platform service arrangement. The initial term of platform service license agreements is generally between one to five years and the agreements generally contain renewal clauses. Revenue for network access fees in excess of the monthly minimum amounts is recognized when earned. All elements within existing platform service arrangements are generally delivered and earned concurrently throughout the term of the respective service arrangement.

Revenue generated from access to our DAS networks consists of build-out fees and recurring access fees under certain long-term contracts with telecom operators. Build-out fees paid upfront are generally deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the estimated customer relationship period, once the build-out is complete. Minimum monthly access fees for usage of the DAS networks are non-cancellable and generally escalate on an annual basis. These minimum monthly access fees are recognized ratably over the term of the telecom operator agreement. The initial term of our contracts with telecom operators and wholesale partners generally range from three to fifteen years and the agreements generally contain renewal clauses. Revenue from network access fees in excess of the monthly minimums is recognized when earned.

In instances where the minimum monthly network access fees escalate over the term of the wholesale service arrangement, an unbilled receivable is recognized when performance is within our control and when we have reasonable assurance that the unbilled receivable balance will be collected.

We adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)—Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (“ASU 2009-13”), on a prospective basis on January 1, 2011. For multiple-deliverable arrangements entered into prior to January 1, 2011 that are accounted for under ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple- Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, we defer recognition of revenue for the full arrangement and recognize all revenue ratably over the wholesale service period for platform service arrangements and the term of the estimated customer relationship period for DAS arrangements, because we do not have evidence of fair value for the undelivered elements in the arrangement. For multiple-deliverable arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2011 that are accounted for under ASC 605-25, we evaluate whether or not separate units of accounting exist and then allocate the arrangement consideration to all units of accounting based on the relative selling price method using estimated selling prices because vendor specific objective evidence and third party evidence is not available. We recognize the revenue associated with the separate units of accounting upon completion of such services or ratably over the wholesale service period for platform service arrangements and the term of the estimated customer relationship period for DAS arrangements.

Subscription fees from retail customers are paid monthly in advance and revenue is deferred for the portions of monthly recurring subscription fees collected in advance. We do not have a stated or published refund policy for our Wi-Fi service, although our customer service representatives will provide a refund on a case-by-case basis. These amounts are not significant and are recorded as contra-revenue in the period the refunds are made. Subscription fee revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period. Revenue generated from retail single-use access is recognized when earned.

Advertising revenue is generated from advertisements on our managed and operated or partner networks. In determining whether an arrangement exists, we ensure that a binding arrangement is in place, such as a standard insertion order or a fully executed customer-specific agreement. Obligations pursuant to our advertising revenue arrangements typically include a minimum number of units or the satisfaction of certain performance criteria. Advertising and other revenue is recognized when the services are performed.