In October, the company reported a third quarter loss of US$3.2 million ($.02 per share), despite a 4.5 percent increase in revenue ($331 million) over the same quarter in 2005, when the company reported earnings of $36 million ($.27 per share). Earthlink cited spending on in its wireless joint venture, HELIO, and its broadband business for the loss.

Wi-Fi has been a major investment area for Earthlink in recent years, as it looks to stem losses of subscribers for dial-up (or "narrowband") service and web-hosting services. A report Wednesday said the company to build a free, advertising-supported wireless Internet network in San Francisco. That deal would need to get city approval before going forward.