CTIA to offer unlimited WiFi access
during WDU, Wireless 2002 in Olando
The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) will offer 802.11b (WiFi) access throughout the entire Orlando convention center during Wireless Data University, March 17 and Wireless 2002, March 18 - 20.
WDU (a day-long tutorial with roundtable discussions; I'm a partner in this) will have more than 300 attendees. Wireless 2002 is the largest wireless conference and exhibition in the United States, with tens of thousands of attendees.
This will be the largest launch of WiFi at any U.S. conference -- unless any of you can tell me about a conference with more than, oh, 40,000 or so attendees. Yesterday I wrote about CeBIT's WiFi implementation in Germany, which is larger than the CTIA's.
Sky Dayton, founder of Earthlink and founder of the WiFi company Boingo Wireless, is sponsoring the WiFi access. Dayton, I believe, feels attendees should pay a modest amount -- to demonstrate that people will indeed pay for WiFi access.
I know the CTIA wanted to offer free WiFi access, but I also understand that Dayton is trying to build a nationwide WiFi business as an "aggregator" of WiFi networks across the United States. I agree. Reliable WiFi service is worth paying for.
Getting WiFi in Orlando
To access the WiFi service, WDU and Wireless 2002 attendees will have to use Boingo software. Software for Boingo's newly-launched commercial service has been available on Boingo's site for subscribers to the company's new commercial service. I assume you will not need any other "special" software for the WDU/CTIA events.
If you don't have a WiFi card, you may lease or buy equipment at the conference. There will be at least three booths or areas where you may get WiFi equipment (WiFi cards and PDAs) and advice. Mobile Planet will sell Microsoft PocketPCs. I hear there will be significant discounts.
WiFi cards -- I assume both PC Cards and Compact Flash Cards -- will be available for lease or purchase. Mobile Planet will sell Socket WiFi cards. Avaya will sell its own cards. Boingo Wireless also will have representatives at its booth or stand to help out.
My WiFi resources
WiFi is useful, and I'm going to do what I can to ensure the tutorial/conference attendees understand the value. I am going to establish a special section on my main Web site to provide information about WiFi for WDU and Wireless 2002 attendees. I'll probably have some articles posted by tomorrow.
Earlier this afternoon I e-mailed out a "special news alert" about WiFi at WDU/Wireless 2002 to subscribers of my free Reiter's Block e-mail commentaries. In addition, I'll e-mail a regular edition of Reiter's Block with additional information, such as recommendations for speakers.
Also, I have Radio 8.X Weblogs, including one about the integration of wireless and blogging and one about the CTIA Wireless 2002. I will be using WiFi to update my Weblogs and illustrate the value of wireless Weblogs.
Moreover, I will be discussing many aspects of WiFi during my three-hour tutorial at Wireless Data University and during a one-hour roundtable discussion about WiFi. As I've written here previously, Sky Dayton will be one of the panelists on the WiFi roundtable.
Looking up
The wireless industry, especially the wireless data industry, has had some tough times. The economy is to blame for some of the problems. But the industry brought many of the problems upon itself by misleading the public about the implementation schedules, speeds and capabilities of wireless data/wireless Internet. But things truly are looking up for wireless data.
WiFi implementation at WDU and Wireless 2002 is very good news. The movers and shakers of the wireless and wireless data industry will be attending these events. Assuming the service works well -- and this is very much a work-in-progress so there could be problems -- tens of thousands of attendees will have the opportunity to use and learn about 802.11.
2:50:42 PM 
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