Gossip

WiFi Hotspots in the wrong spots

Our Packet Sniffer showed up at the Olympia Hilton Hotel in London for a WiFi "hotspots on trains" conference. Of course, the first thing our intrepid gossip columist was supposed to do was report back. So, naturally, he looked for a WiFi hotspot ...

The good news: the Hilton Hotel is a BT OpenZone franchisee. If you have a Liberate Your Laptop pass, or the money to buy one, you can get an hour's online time. Ideal for an important session during the conference, "Practical Strategies for Implementing Wi-Fi in Passenger Transport."

Brilliant, thought the Hunky Mouse. He found a comfortable chair in one of the conference rooms, and opened up the ThinkPad.

No Signal. Several Available Wireless Networks, all of which turn out to be other delegates, also looking for a signal.

A one-off, you probably think. A silly mistake, or something unavoidable to do with the Hilton's own internal wireless network? Maybe.

Curiously, there's another, identical OpenZone zone in the main Park Lane Hilton. Identical in the sense that it works in the same way: you go to the Conference level, on the intermediate floor, and there's the BT sign. Reception at the reception desk is brilliant. Signal in the conference areas: nil.

You have to be a professional organisation to get it right like this, you know; it can't be left to amateurs.