From: jeremie kass (jeremie@monkey.org)
Date: Tue Oct 03 2000 - 19:32:56 PDT
I found the lead on this story amusing:
"United Airlines said today it will install wireless Internet access in
its lounges and waiting areas, enabling disgruntled passengers to
email complaints directly from the Red Carpet Club."
This should be a nice combination with Wayport's 802.11 service for
hotels and airports.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/cn/20001003/tc/united_airlines_lands_wireless_web_at_airports_2.html
Tuesday October 03 09:00 PM EDT
United Airlines lands wireless Web at airports
By Stephanie Miles, CNET News.com
United Airlines said today it will install wireless Internet access in
its lounges and waiting areas, enabling disgruntled passengers to
email complaints directly from the Red Carpet Club.
United's plan will eliminate the need for passengers who own
wireless-enabled laptops and handheld computers to use modem-equipped
pay phones or lounge telephones. The installation will allow them to
use a wireless connection to read email, surf the Web or even check
online to see whether their flight has been canceled.
United is developing its wireless plan in partnership with SoftNet
Systems subsidiary Aerzone, which specializes in network access for
business travelers.
Many laptop computers and personal digital assistants now offer
wireless modems. Dell Computer, IBM and Apple Computer offer wireless
connections in their new notebooks. Palm, Handspring and Compaq
Computer have wireless modems for their handheld computers.
Market research firm Cahners predicts the wireless networking market
will grow from $771 million last year to $2.2 billion in 2004, driven
primarily by demand from business professionals.
The wireless hubs will be placed in United's Red Carpet Club, airport
lounges, gate areas, terminals, first-class lounges and frequent flier
centers, United and Aerzone said. United's plan includes offering
high-speed wireless access via radio frequency 802.11.
Subscriptions will be available on a onetime or monthly basis. United
did not disclose when the service will be available and has not yet
decided how much to charge for a subscription.
"We recognize the value of our customers' time and the new
United-Aerzone product will make it possible for our customers to use
their laptops from nearly anywhere," Graham Atkinson, senior vice
president of marketing for United, said in a statement.
United already offers its Mobile Chariot, a portable passenger
check-in podium that uses a wireless Internet connection to
communicate with the United reservations network. The airline, which
has been criticized this summer for rampant flight delays and
cancellations, also provides access to its flight schedule via the
Palm VII, which has wireless Internet access, and through cell phones
that offer Web access.
Currently, most airports offer Internet access only through
modem-equipped pay phones or regular phone lines. But these are
frequently unavailable, United noted, in part because there are more
passengers who want Internet access than there are pay phones or open
modems.
Aerzone is working on a similar project for Delta Air Lines, which
will be finished sometime in 2001. Both Delta and United will likely
offer business services, such as printing and access to corporate
networks, in their first-class lounges, in addition to wireless
Internet access in the terminals, an Aerzone representative said.
United's plans are subject to approval of individual airports.
Although United is offering a cutting-edge service, the airline has
also run into technology-related problems this summer. In June, the
company's Web site locked visitors out of popular United content. The
same month, United and American Airlines both disclosed they were
inspecting faulty wiring used to power laptop computers during
flights.
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