News

US hotels go wireless; would be illegal in UK

Hotel guests in the USA can look forward to being connected to high-speed Internet, anywhere in the hotel campus, without effort - while European travellers continue to carry a tangle of phone leads, a list of remote ISP dialup numbers, and a horrible configuration puzzle.

Unlike some public access wireless, the system which StayOnline is installing in hotels doesn't require the user to know how to set up their notebook PC, says the Atlanta-based startup. Indeed, the hotel guests doesn't even need a notebook; SuiteOnline includes thin client (smart terminals in hotel rooms) to connect guests directly to email and Internet services, as well as to hotel amenities.

"RoamOnline is a wireless network that covers an entire hotel property: guest rooms, poolside, meeting rooms, restaurants, and lobbies," said Antonio DiMilia, StayOnline President. Guests can connect wirelessly by using the StayOnline "EZAirSM Laptop connection kits" requiring no laptop configuration by the user.

This week, Stayonline announced that it had selected Enterasys Roamabout WiFi technology to provide its services, which cover internal hotel management needs as well as guest access.

As the brand standard for Hawthorn Hotels, StayOnline is currently performing installations within 150 hotels, encompassing more than 20,000 hotel rooms. As of today, the StayOnline system has been implemented in more than 700 guest rooms.

Each hotel receives a T1 connection, central server, routers, RoamAbout wireless Access Points and Radio Cards, and Thin Client devices. Each in-room computer is outfitted with localised Internet content customized to the particular hotel and geographic area. A hotel-specific web page, entirely free to guests, enables them to check hotel services, view designated sites, including USA Today and MSN, and view local weather and transportation information.

The system cannot be deployed in the UK. In America, full Internet access is available on the in-room Thin Client for $9.95 daily, and for laptop users who wish to roam throughout the hotel's conference rooms and meeting areas while remaining connected. However, in the UK, this lucrative option would be illegal, as paid-for wireless access over "licence-exempt" frequencies like the WiFi 2.4 GHz remains banned while Government indulges in a consultation period.

"The network is used primarily for Internet access through a visitor-based access system; someone who uses our system today may or may not be the person who logs in tomorrow," continued DiMilia. "Therefore, by design, the network must incorporate all available security measures in order to justify the trust placed in the system by the user, whether they are a travelling businessperson or a casual shopper on eBay."

However, DiMilia indicated that his company didn't regard security as a problem which required more aggressive encryption solutions than provided by 40-bit or 128-bit WiFi security standards.

Based in Atlanta, StayOnline has one of the most irritating Web site home pages I've ever seen, which is why I've pointed you at their news page instead. It's worth a visit, all the same.