Boingo launches with relatively few sites
Boingo Wireless, the WiFi "aggregator" founded by Sky Dayton, founder of Earthlink, officially launched yesterday. According to the press release, Boingo launched with more than 400 hot spots across the country. That's far less than what's needed for a viable nationwide business. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of locations are necessary.
I looked at what's available in my area -- the Washington, D.C. metro area -- and it's sad. Virtually nothing is available from Boingo. A handful of sites are "coming soon" in the Washington, D.C. and Maryland/Virginia suburbs, according to Boingo's Web site. However, most of those sites are hotels with "lobby only" availability.
Does that mean if I'm in a meeting I can't use Boingo's 802.11 capabilities to access the Internet? If "lobby only" really means "nowhere else," then it's pretty lame -- more for bragging rights than a useful service. WiFi access in meeting rooms is critical. Access in the hotel's restaurants and bar could be useful. Access in individual rooms is, unfortunately, a big job and less important because at least there's wireline Internet access.
Of course, this is just the start of Boingo's commercial rollout. And, Boingo doesn't actually install 802.11 across the country; it aggregates the hot spots of companies that do the installation, such as Wayport and Surf and Sip. So Boingo should be given some leeway, but not for long!
I'll be covering Boingo and other WiFi topics in my free wireless data e-mail commentaries, which I'm launching this month.
My new wireless LAN Web resource
I'm writing a new section about wireless LANs on my Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing Web site. It will focus on 802.11 technology and its integration with wide area wireless networks, i.e., cellular. But don't look for it om my corporate site just yet; it's not posted. I'll let you all know when it's available this week.
I don't want to duplicate what's already available, such as Glenn Fleishman's great 802.11b Networking News site. There's lots of good information already on the Web. Although some duplication is inevitable, I'm going to emphasize what the cellular industry has to do to provide good cellular/WiFi service.
I'm also going to discuss networking a little bit and provide resources for networking information. The sad fact is that if you aren't tech-savvy, you probably don't know you need to configure a network on your computers if you want to swap files, etc.
With Sprint PCS involved in Boingo Wireless (Sprint is an investor in a company that have put money in Boingo) and VoiceStream poised to purchase MobileStar, the cellular industry is indeed getting into the nationwide public 802.11 business.
The CTIA and WiFi
The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association produces the wireless show in the U.S. Last year, Wireless 2001 had something like 40,000 attendees. The Wireless shows are big stuff. Gates, Ballmer, Fiorina, Grove, etc. -- people who need no first names to identify them -- are keynote speakers. (I helped the CTIA get a great keynoter for this year, but I can't tell you, yet.)
Wireless 2002 will be held in Orlando in March. (I'm doing a day-long workshop (Wireless Data University) on wireless data as well as moderating a panel on wireless as a "lifestyle," entitled "Fashionably Wireless."
Wireless 2002 will be held in the Orange County Convention Center which offers WiFi access. I'm trying to convince the CTIA that it makes sense -- a lot of sense -- to aggressively promote the WiFi capabilities. WiFi can, I believe, change the way conferences are held and the way attendees view these shows. Presenters can use WiFi to show relevant Web sites as they are speaking. Presenters can post new material at the last minute on their corporate Web sit and direct attendees to the site. Attendees can ignore the presenter and check their e-mail and surf the Web!
During Wireless Data University I'm moderating a panel about wireless LANs and personal LANs (i.e., Bluetooth). I really want WiFi access and I want to make sure it's available where I need it in the conference center. I want to make sure attendees know there's WiFi access.
I've suggested to the CTIA that it consider teaming up with a company that can provide -- sell and lease -- 802.11b PC Cards to attendees. I also suggested that the CTIA aggressively promote the fact of WiFi availability and ensure that attendees know it exists and know how to use it...before arriving at the show. Perhaps a WiFi-related company in the cellular industry, such as Boingo Wireless, Sprint PCS or VoiceStream/MobileStar might want to "sponsor" free usage for attendees.
If you're attending the CTIA show and think WiFi would be useful, perhaps you'd want to contact the association and tell them you want them to promote WiFi <g>. Don't tell them you got this from me, but the president of the CTIA is Tom Wheeler and the vice president of conventions is Robert Mesirow. Both are smart and very capable. They understand wireless. But it might not hurt to tell them you want WiFi at Wireless 2002!
11:41:28 AM 
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