Steven Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 (edited) Marriott hotels to offer Wi-Fi access By Reuters December 18, 2002, 10:15 PM PT Marriott International said Wednesday it was rolling out high-speed wireless Internet access in 400 hotels, the lodging industry's largest such deployment. Marriott, which manages 2,500 hotels worldwide, already offers in-room high-speed connections to the Internet in 400 hotels. It now plans in those locations to add wireless Web access using the popular Wi-Fi standard in public areas and meeting rooms, a spokesman said. The service will be supported by STSN, a privately held company specializing in hotel high-speed Internet in which Marriott has a financial stake. Intel Communications Fund, affiliated with the chipmaker and Wi-Fi booster Intel, is also an investor and increased its stake to help fund the hotel roll-out, STSN said. High-speed wireless Internet on the Wi-Fi standard, also known as 802.11b, is becoming a popular way to get on the Internet in public, since computers equipped with antennas and the most recent operating systems from Microsoft and Apple Computer can automatically detect networks. Relatively slow Internet access via cellular phone networks has failed to gain much market share, leading in part to the development of public Wi-Fi networks which offer blazing speeds in limited areas. A Wi-Fi access point serves a radius of about 300 feet. T Mobile USA, the Deutsche Telekom unit that is the sixth largest U.S. wireless telephone company, has been rolling out its "hot spot" plan of Wi-Fi-based wireless Internet in Starbucks coffee shops and airline clubs and lounges, offering pay-as-you-go and subscription plans. STSN is expected to finish the Marriott roll-out of wireless Internet, using both the 802.11b and the faster 802.11a standard, next spring. Marriott and STSN will share revenue from the service, once installation is paid for, the Marriott spokesman said. Currently, guests pay $9.95 per night to use the wireline, in-room high speed Internet. http://news.com.com/2100-1033-978411.html Edited December 19, 2002 by xStainDx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keldyn Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 link is broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted December 19, 2002 Author Share Posted December 19, 2002 link is broken. Left off the "L" fixed now :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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