Business Services Industry

San Francisco International Airport Launches Wireless Broadband Internet Access Via T-Mobile HotSpot Network

Business Wire, March 5, 2003

Business Editors/Travel Writers/High-Tech Writers

BELLEVUE, Wash. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2003

City officials and Technology Leaders Cut the

Ethernet Cord for Millions of Travelers

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and T-Mobile USA Inc. today announced the availability of high-speed wireless Internet access for passengers traveling through SFO via T-Mobile HotSpot(sm) service. As part of a multi year lease agreement for T-Mobile to offer Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless broadband (WLAN) service throughout the airport, SFO becomes the latest airport to offer travelers the convenience of using their notebook computer or PDA to check e-mail or surf the Web with a super fast, reliable wireless connection.

The network at SFO will be installed in phases over the next year. The first phase is complete and provides T-Mobile HotSpot(sm) service today at United Airlines Gates 80 to 90 in Terminal 3 including the food court and Hub lounge, United Airlines' Red Carpet Club and the ticket and lobby area of the New International Terminal Building. The balance of the airport will be Wi-Fi enabled by the end of the year offering customers wireless connectivity from anywhere in the airport whether at their gate, ticket counter or airport restaurant or lounge.

The service is already available in SFO's American Airlines Admirals Club as part of a previous agreement. T-Mobile has entered into agreements with Syntegra for the network installation.

The "cutting of the Ethernet cord" for Bay Area travelers will be celebrated at a reception today hosted by Airport Director John L. Martin, San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, T-Mobile USA Vice Chairman Bob Stapleton and Intel Corporation Chairman Andy Grove. T-Mobile and Intel announced this week an agreement to launch a joint marketing campaign to promote T-Mobile HotSpot(sm) service in conjunction with the upcoming introduction of Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology for notebook PC's that feature built-in wireless capability.

Airport Director John Martin said "At SFO, we pride ourselves on being a world-class facility that makes cutting-edge technology available for our savvy travelers. Thanks to this new technology, road warriors can now reclaim lost work time and keep in touch with loved ones while at SFO."

According to Bob Stapleton, vice chairman of T-Mobile USA, today's announcement underscores the company's progress in expanding the service to airports nationwide. "Today's announcement with the City, our air travel partners, and Intel illustrates the fundamental desire for mobile high-speed Internet and intranet access. These highly capable technology, marketing, and venue partners will allow us to expand our market leading T-Mobile HotSpot service even more rapidly in 2003," said Stapleton.

Currently, T-Mobile HotSpot(sm) service is available in more than 2200 locations nationwide, including Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books and Music and American Airlines Admirals Clubs. Additionally, T-Mobile provides coverage at either American Airlines gates or in whole terminals at fifteen airports in North America. T-Mobile has also announced agreements with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to deploy the service in over 100 of the airline's clubs and lounges this year.

For more information on T-Mobile HotSpot(sm) service, including a list of active locations, go to www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/.> About T-Mobile, USA

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA operates the largest GSM/GPRS voice and high-speed wireless data network in the United States, covering over 200 million people. T-Mobile also operates a "Wi-Fi" 802.11b wireless broadband (WLAN) network in more than 2,000 public locations including Starbucks coffeehouses, American Airlines Admirals Clubs, and select airports nationwide. T-Mobile is a member of T-Mobile International group, the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE:DT), and one of the top three global wireless carriers in the world. Through its GET MORE(sm) promise, T-Mobile is committed to providing the best overall value in wireless communications with more minutes, features and service than any other carrier. For more information, go to www.t-mobile.com.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

 

BNET TalkbackShare your ideas and expertise on this topic

Please add your comment:

  1. You are currently: a Guest |
  2.  

Basic HTML tags that work in comments are: bold (<b></b>), italic (<i></i>), underline (<u></u>), and hyperlink (<a href></a)

advertisement
advertisement
  • Click Here
  • Click Here
  • Click Here
advertisement

Content provided in partnership with Thompson Gale