The dark side of offering free wireless internet access is showing. Freeloaders, those who might buy one cup of coffee at a coffee shop, or maybe even nothing at all are becomeing a problem for many shop owners. Some are reconsidering offering free WiFi or just unplugging it when it’s a problem. Owners and consumers… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Deployment
Free WiFi Spawns Cafe Backlash
Some cafe owners in the U.S. are now fighting back against customers taking advantage of the free WiFi connection in their restaurants. Though the service attracts more customers, it also caused problems, i.e., some would buy nothing or if ever they purchase anything, it would be cheapest item. There are also instances when people would… Continue Reading
Indiana Hospital Eyes Voice-Over-Wi-Fi Phones For Nurses
An Indiana hospital will soon have their nurses equiped with voice-over-Wi-Fi phones in an effort to boost their mobility. Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, Indiana is currently assessing phones from Cisco Systems, Vocera Communications, and SpectraLink. The hospital’s infrastructure is ready to support the new service. Last year, Hancock installed several Extreme’s Altitude 350-2 access… Continue Reading
Troops In Iraq Among Satisfied Customers Of Trango Broadband Wireless
Trango Broadband Wireless, a privately-held company founded in San Diego in the 90s, makes connecting to the Internet possible just about anywhere. Trango uses radio spectrum that doesn’t require a license and requires just a base-station radio and a subscriber radio. A base station (access point) runs about $1,000, and a subscriber radio can go… Continue Reading
Nokia Brings Wi-Fi To Central Park
Nokia’s found a great way to sell phones in New York — offer free Wi-Fi Internet access networks in 10 major city parks (including Central Park), and make sure park visitors need one of your phones to tap into the service. Users need a phone like the Nokia N80 and N91 or the Nokia 770… Continue Reading
Unlimited Wi-Fi For £12 A Month
U.K. WiFi provider the Cloud is offering unlimited wireless access for only £11.99 a month. Customers however should note that the plan involves a one-year contract and a 1GB per month data limit. Nonetheless, the package is a good deal considering that majority of providers impose a fee of £5 per hour of use. Via… Continue Reading
Showdown In Seoul For Wireless Internet
Seoul’s KT Corporation and SK Telecom are now both operating WiBro networks, a Korean version of the 802.16e mobile subsection of the WiMax standard. Korea’s capital city was already wired via public hotspots, but mobile WiMax is offering more by providing wireless data speeds of several mbps plus a range that exceeds 1km. WiBro’s only… Continue Reading
Paris Wants Wireless Internet Access Across City
Paris is aiming to become the world’s most connected capital city with its plan to have citywide wireless Internet coverage by the end of next year. Under the project, the city will put up 400 free WiFi access points that will beam to the antennae set up by Internet service providers. The city expects to… Continue Reading
Virgin Trains Get Connected With WiMax And HSDPA
Virgin Trains has elected to use WiMax to enable passengers get Internet connection from their seat. QinetiQ Rail is providing the technology and has installed it on the company’s Pendolino train. CEO Magnus McEwen-King expects the application of the WiMax-and-satellite combination to bring down costs. “If we were to use WiMax throughout the whole route… Continue Reading
WiFi In Belfast Hospital Bags Award
Techworld named the introduction of Wi-Fi at the Royal Hospitals Group, Belfast as the Public Sector Project of the Year, with systems integrator Telindus receiving the citation. Paul Duffy, IT Manager at the Royal Hospitals, said the technology, which became operational in March 2005, “has helped [the institution] move away from having to have doctors… Continue Reading
Boeing Connexion Service Fails To Take Off
It appears airline passengers aren’t as eager for in-flight Wi-Fi as proponents thought they would be. Boeing, creator of Connexion in-flight Wi-Fi service, has put a hold on future expansion of the service and may even sell or terminate the program. Connexion currently offers wireless service onboard 72 extended-flight planes, but the fee of up… Continue Reading
Taipei’s Citywide Wi-Fi Passes Test
Taipei could be the first city to deploy a city-wide Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi hotspot directory JiWire Inc. has dispatched a team to test the network, which supports 4,000 hotspots that could service 90 percent of the city’s population numbering 2.8 million. People can gain access to the network by subscribing to Q-ware Systems, Inc. and… Continue Reading
Wireless Crusader FON In $5 Wi-Fi Router Giveaway
If you can spare 5 bucks for a $60 router and you don’t mind sharing your wireless connection with other users, you might want to become a “fonero.” Foneros are folks who agree to install $5 routers from Spanish start-up FON and then agree to allow other FON users to share the wireless access point… Continue Reading
Mobile WiMax Roams The Outback
The lack of certification has not deterred the deployment of Mobile WiMax, as indicated by what is happening in Australia. Around 50,000 Unwired Australia users and several subscribers of TV operator AUSTER in the city of Wagga Wagga are now roaming seamlessly between two Mobile WiMax networks equipped by Navini Networks. The Texas-based company has… Continue Reading
Langberg: The Overbuilding Of Wireless Networks Lingers In The Air
Too much excitement over wireless technologies is risking the possibility of overbuilding of networks. At present, there are several projects aimed at providing citywide or nationwide WiFi coverage and the question is whether these networks will attract enough customers to remain viable in the long term. Analysts like Andy Seybold, editor of the wireless industry… Continue Reading