Bear Flag Republic Radio Weblog

Yahoo train -- What that's about?

Ever Yahooed on a train? Now, you can! Yahoo! Inc. and Amtrak today rolled out the United States' first Internet-enabled passenger trains. The three interactive trains will operate on Amtrak services, the Acela Regional in the Northeast, Capitols in Northern California and Hiawatha in the Midwest, for up to six months. (See related video available on Yahoo! Broadcast at http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1010606&;segment=70615).

With cars wrapped in Yahoo!'s(R) signature purple and yellow colors, the interactive trains are now in service and offer guests access to Yahoo! content and services while on-the-go. The award-winning Compaq Pocket PCs, provided by Compaq Computer Corporation, put the power of a desktop PC in a to-go device. Complete with wireless modems and Internet service, the Pocket PCs mounted in the cafe cars or coaches, give Amtrak guests the ability to surf the Web free-of-charge as they travel for business or pleasure.

"From Amtrak trains, to commuter planes in Japan, and wired taxis in New York, our latest program is a visible extension of Yahoo!'s commitment to distribute Yahoo! services through a range of traditional and non-traditional vehicles and give consumers everything they need to communicate and organize their lives everywhere they go," said Christopher Wu, Wireless Yahoo, Yahoo! Inc. "Amtrak trains connect their guests on the go with the nation's top destinations, and now Yahoo! can go with them. We are thrilled to be working with Amtrak and Compaq to help millions of Yahoo! users stay on top of their business and personal lives while traveling in the comfort of a train." -Caltrans, Paul Highland, Richard Friedman