Stephen Nold

Top Technologies for 2008: Wireless Networks
January 22, 2008

With the launch of the 2008 year, I am exploring the technologies that I believe will have the greatest impact in our industry. In a series of posts, I am defining tools with the expectation that our industry will continue to be impacted by the trends to design and deploy these solutions.

WiFi Networks

With the availability of the internet across both personal and professional lives, people expect and demand internet access wherever they go. This means that attendees at all conferences, conventions and tradeshows will require quick and easy access to the internet. In the past, events have set up internet cafes and kiosks to provide this access, but such hotspots are susceptible to long lines and are often put in isolated locations. However, wireless internet allows attendees to connect whenever and wherever they want at the event, as most people carry a laptop or other mobile device with wireless capabilities. The costs of implementing a wireless network have dramatically declined in the last year, and a wireless network solution is now accessible to most event budgets. 

Even as venues and facilities struggle to determine appropriate fees, show organizers and users are losing their patience with exorbitant prices for technology that is relatively inexpensive. WiMax solutions that distribute a signal over miles instead of feet seem to offer competitive pressures. But we will not see wide spread WiMax signals in 2008.  It is exciting to hear the rumors of a Google sponsored national WiFi solution.  If Google stayed true to the advertising driven revenue model, WiFi internet access would be available for no charge in all major cities. Even more buzz is thrown out about the free Google cell phone.  It is unlikely that either of these two technologies will be available in 2008. 

Whether venues and hotels continue to charge for WiFi will be one of the most important questions in 2008.  Great pressure exists to provide this commodity service at a reasonable cost, especially given that most facilities have completed their build of the infrastructure.  A profitable business model is justified, but just as I do not wish to receive an extra fee for the soap and shampoo in my room, it would make more sense for WiFi to be absorbed into the overall budget of running a facility.  Especially when you are charging extra to the road warriors who pay the higher hotel room rates.

Posted by Stephen Nold on January 22, 2008 | Comments (0)