Washington State Ferries has shut down its free wireless Internet service. The decision ensued from the expiry of a grant that used to finance the program. WSF implemented the switch initially in the Bainbridge Island and Kingston routes and plans to do the same for Bremerton in December. Passengers may still get WiFi connection if… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Commentary
Wi-Fi Is Hot–But Manufacturers Are Cautious
A new survey by WiFi Alliance shows that WiFi is becoming more popular, with nearly 9 out of 10 respondents choosing their wireless connection over a year’s worth of Starbucks. Moreover, 80 percent of those surveyed would not mind seeing their home team lose if they can keep their WiFi connection. This increasing popularity, however,… Continue Reading
Downtown Bellevue Is Getting A Wi-Fi Network
The city of Bellevue in Washington is deploying a WiFi network in the downtown area. Once installed, the network will initially extend over a 1.5-acre area from City Hall and Meydenbauer Center on the east to Bellevue Square and the Downtown Park on the west. Eventually, according to Bellevue Information Technology Manager David Kerr, the… Continue Reading
Wi-Fi Hot Spots Multiply Around The World
A study by ABI Research indicates that the number of WiFi hotspots around the world has risen by 47 percent to 143,700 in 2006. Europe — home to 57,000 hotspots — and North America account for 74 percent of the volume but Asia-Pacific is expected to surpass both regions in five years due to its… Continue Reading
Wireless Internet HotSpots Up 47 Percent Worldwide: Survey
This year will see an increase in the number of WiFi hotspots worldwide by 143,700 or about 47 percent, according to a new report by ABI Research. The research firm ascribed the trend to an increasing demand and use of WiFi, particularly in retail establishments and the hotel industry. Nearly three quarters of all hotspots… Continue Reading
Explaining To Business The Why In Wi-Fi
VARs could play a big role in convincing businesses to embrace WiFi. To do this, some suggest that resellers adopt the technology themselves. But, according to Foundry Networks product marketing manager Michael Hong, VARs need sufficient know-how and training in providing maintenance and support before they can deploy their own networks. Stephen Dane, director of… Continue Reading
802.11n Speeds Wireless LANs
Although considered a technology for the consumer market, 802.11n supports key applications that are useful to enterprises. These include ERP and CRM systems, workgroup computing applications, and various wireless backhaul applications, which need throughputs higher than what the current 802.11 standards can deliver. Such capacity is due to 802.11n’s features, particularly multiple-input multiple-output. MIMO improves… Continue Reading
New Orleans To Take City-wide WiFi Network Offline
New Orleans will shut down its city-wide WiFi network once EarthLink’s system becomes operational either later this year or by early 2007. The current network delivers a speed of 128 Kbps, with equipment supplied by Intel, Tropos Networks, and Pronto Networks to help the city restore its communications infrastructure following the devastation caused by Hurricane… Continue Reading
Faster Testing Could Mean More Certified Wi-Fi
Azimuth Systems has released a new test suite that could reduce the testing time for WiFi products by two-thirds. WiFi Alliance’s Authorized Test Laboratories worldwide will use the AzCert Wi-Fi Certification Test Suite. Azimuth vice president of marketing Jeff Abramowitz estimated that testing will take between four and five hours. Although the laboratories have yet… Continue Reading
Citywide Wi-Fi Spending Could Hit $3 Billion
A new report by MuniWireless.com indicates that U.S. municipalities will invest over $3 billion in public wireless networks over the next four years. MuniWireless.com founder Esme Vos ascribed the trend to increasing interest among cities and counties to develop their own wireless networks, which are either managed by them alone or in collaboration with a… Continue Reading
Boingo’s Wi-Fi Net Puts Roots Down In Asia-Pacific
Boingo Wireless has partnered with three companies to expand its presence in Asia. The WiFi network aggregator inked roaming agreements with Singapore Telecom, StarHub — another Singaporean firm — and Philippine hotspot operator Innove Communications. It also has similar deals in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. Via [networkworld.com]… Continue Reading
Hedging The WiMAX Bet
Intel is banking on WiMax to break its unlucky streak in venturing outside the PC. Both established and young companies are expected to embrace the new technology. WiMax is seen by many as faster than cellular due to its reliance on MIMO. Via [commsdesign.com]… Continue Reading
Canadian Town Gets WiMax
Despite being a small town, Hanna in Alberta, Canada is home to six WiMax towers. The facilities, which comprise Nortel base stations and customer premises gear (or subscriber stations) with radios based on the IEEE 802.16d fixed WiMax standard, were installed by Netago Wireless. The company offers subscribers various data plans, with uplink speeds ranging… Continue Reading
Securing Your Network In A Growing Wireless World
A good reason to secure one’s wireless network is performance, according to Yankee Group analyst Tara Howard. But aside from that, there is not much difference between an unsecured and secured network. Nonetheless, some people prefers to have their networks secured and to do so, they should ensure that their firewall is properly working. They… Continue Reading
WiFi Offers Greater Connectivity To NYU
Officials at New York University sees a continuous growth in the availability of wireless Internet connectivity within the campus. A yearly survey by the Campus Computing Project indicates that coverage has grown over the years, with over half of college classrooms now having access to the university’s wireless network as compared to only two-fifths last… Continue Reading