Round Rock, Texas, January 24, 2006
Dell today announced it will bring Vodafone's third-generation (3G) wireless broadband technology to Dell's notebook customers in the UK, France and Germany. With its build-to-order capability, Dell aims to expand customers' wireless connectivity options by delivering built-in access to Vodafone's high-speed wireless data network in these countries. This new service will mean users will have readily available access to e-mail, Internet and servers through the Vodafone mobile broadband data network.
Beginning in the first half of this year, Dell will offer notebook computers with optional integrated High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) wireless broadband capability, which will boost current 3G download speeds by approximately four times.
Read the full story
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Philly & Earthlink finalize contract
Earthlink Inc. has finalized a 10-year contract to provide citywide high-speed wireless Internet service, and deployment should start as early as spring 2007, a city official said Monday.
Dianah Neff, Philadelphia's chief information officer and head of Wireless Philadelphia, said the contract will go before the City Council for approval in February.
Earthlink will own the network and charge a wholesale rate of $9 a month to Internet service providers that would then resell the services to the public, she said.
Neff said the contract doesn't specify the monthly rate that would be charged to consumers, but she said the wholesale price is low enough to enable ISPs to offer low-cost services. City officials had been trying to keep the monthly price to $20 or less.
Construction should start right after the contract is signed. Earthlink will build the network initially over a 15-square-mile area in Northeast Philadelphia to prove the system will work, Neff said. If successful, citywide access could be turned on by spring 2007, she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, which can be renewed, Earthlink will carry the cost to build the Wi-Fi network to cover 135 square miles.
Earthlink also will pay the city and Wireless Philadelphia, the nonprofit handling the project, a fee to mount wireless Internet equipment onto city infrastructure, such as lamp posts.
Neff said talks are ongoing with six ISPs interested in reselling the service.
Philadelphia was the first large city to announce plans to build a wireless Internet network and provide low-cost rates to residents as a way to span the digital divide
Read the full story
Dianah Neff, Philadelphia's chief information officer and head of Wireless Philadelphia, said the contract will go before the City Council for approval in February.
Earthlink will own the network and charge a wholesale rate of $9 a month to Internet service providers that would then resell the services to the public, she said.
Neff said the contract doesn't specify the monthly rate that would be charged to consumers, but she said the wholesale price is low enough to enable ISPs to offer low-cost services. City officials had been trying to keep the monthly price to $20 or less.
Construction should start right after the contract is signed. Earthlink will build the network initially over a 15-square-mile area in Northeast Philadelphia to prove the system will work, Neff said. If successful, citywide access could be turned on by spring 2007, she said.
Under the terms of the agreement, which can be renewed, Earthlink will carry the cost to build the Wi-Fi network to cover 135 square miles.
Earthlink also will pay the city and Wireless Philadelphia, the nonprofit handling the project, a fee to mount wireless Internet equipment onto city infrastructure, such as lamp posts.
Neff said talks are ongoing with six ISPs interested in reselling the service.
Philadelphia was the first large city to announce plans to build a wireless Internet network and provide low-cost rates to residents as a way to span the digital divide
Read the full story
Grand Rapids Wireless Broadband RFP
Pre-Proposal Conference
The Pre-Proposal Conference* will be held at the following location on February 16th at 10 am EST:
Grand Rapids City Hall
9th Floor -City Commission Chambers
300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Proposers may attend in person or join by conference call. Conference call information: Telephone Number: (641)297-4600 Access Code: 995924#
*The meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Proposers are expected to attend the entire meeting. Proposers may submit questions in advance of the meeting. Proposers should confirm participation by Feb. 14th at 5pm EST.
Milestone/Activity Date/Time
RFP Released 1/27/06
Vendors Confirm Pre-Proposal Conference Participation 2/14/06
Pre-Proposal Conference
(Not Mandatory, But Strongly Encouraged) 2/16/06 10 am EST
Questions from Proposers Due 2/23/06
Response to Questions and Issuance of Any Addenda 3/03/06
Letter of Intent to Bid (Required)3/15/06
RFP Response Due 4/04/06
Finalists Selected 5/08/06
Interviews with Finalists Week of 5/22/06
Agreement Award 6/15/06
Project Kickoff 9/12/06
Download the RFP
The Pre-Proposal Conference* will be held at the following location on February 16th at 10 am EST:
Grand Rapids City Hall
9th Floor -City Commission Chambers
300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Proposers may attend in person or join by conference call. Conference call information: Telephone Number: (641)297-4600 Access Code: 995924#
*The meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Proposers are expected to attend the entire meeting. Proposers may submit questions in advance of the meeting. Proposers should confirm participation by Feb. 14th at 5pm EST.
Milestone/Activity Date/Time
RFP Released 1/27/06
Vendors Confirm Pre-Proposal Conference Participation 2/14/06
Pre-Proposal Conference
(Not Mandatory, But Strongly Encouraged) 2/16/06 10 am EST
Questions from Proposers Due 2/23/06
Response to Questions and Issuance of Any Addenda 3/03/06
Letter of Intent to Bid (Required)3/15/06
RFP Response Due 4/04/06
Finalists Selected 5/08/06
Interviews with Finalists Week of 5/22/06
Agreement Award 6/15/06
Project Kickoff 9/12/06
Download the RFP
WiMAX - Dramatic Growth Expected - Fixed Wireless
"The promise of WiMAX is low-cost, ubiquitous Fixed Wireless Networks to match the ever-present Wi-Fi networks and hotspots that are becoming as common as air conditioning. You're just starting to expect to have wireless access available. WiMAX extends this premise from the local area to the city wide area,"
I agree with the comments above. WiFi has organically grown over the last 5 years but still can not be considered now where near ubiquitous coverage. WiMAX will become a good supplement to WiFi by providing a good point to point/Multi point option to expand wireless broadband coverage.
Full Story
I agree with the comments above. WiFi has organically grown over the last 5 years but still can not be considered now where near ubiquitous coverage. WiMAX will become a good supplement to WiFi by providing a good point to point/Multi point option to expand wireless broadband coverage.
Full Story
Sunday, January 29, 2006
RIM - The Whole Story
Globaltechnology.com has a good article that outlines the events that have lead up RIM's patent troubles. I have been using a blackberry for over 4 years now and have grown attached to getting real time email on my hip. Sometimes I want to throw out the window while driving 80 down the freeway, but still a very important device I need to stay productive. Over the last year other alternatives have slowing matured to the point of competing with the Crackberry.
Full Story
Full Story
Friday, January 13, 2006
Sending WiFi Signals Thru Gas Pipes
Very interesting use of existing gas pipelines. Univ of Missouri-Rolla has succesfully sent WiFi signals through a gas pipeline.
Full Story
Full Story
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Let There Be Wi-Fi
"Broadband is the electricity of the 21st century—and much of America is being left in the dark. " Robert McChesney and John Podesta give us give us some good insight into the growing debate over Muni WiFi systems.
"American residents and businesses now pay two to three times as much for slower and poorer quality service than countries like South Korea or Japan. Since 2001, according to the International Telecommunications Union, the United States has fallen from fourth to 16th in the world in broadband penetration. "
The dispute over municipal broadband bears a striking similarity to the development of the electric power industry a century ago. As James Baller—an attorney who represents local governments and public utilities—first warned in a 1994 paper written for the American Public Power Association: “The history of the electric power industry casts substantial doubt on the notion that our nation can depend on competition among cable and telephone companies alone... to ensure not only prompt and affordable, but also universal, access to the benefits of the information superhighway.”
Full Story
"American residents and businesses now pay two to three times as much for slower and poorer quality service than countries like South Korea or Japan. Since 2001, according to the International Telecommunications Union, the United States has fallen from fourth to 16th in the world in broadband penetration. "
The dispute over municipal broadband bears a striking similarity to the development of the electric power industry a century ago. As James Baller—an attorney who represents local governments and public utilities—first warned in a 1994 paper written for the American Public Power Association: “The history of the electric power industry casts substantial doubt on the notion that our nation can depend on competition among cable and telephone companies alone... to ensure not only prompt and affordable, but also universal, access to the benefits of the information superhighway.”
Full Story
Thursday, January 05, 2006
TV with builtin WiFi
HP has introduced a TV with builtin WiFi. According to the HP web site:
"HP is also introducing the industry's first Advanced Digital Media TV that allows consumers to view and enjoy video, music, movies and photos stored on individual PCs throughout the home and also provides direct Internet access from the comfort of their couch."
Full Story
"HP is also introducing the industry's first Advanced Digital Media TV that allows consumers to view and enjoy video, music, movies and photos stored on individual PCs throughout the home and also provides direct Internet access from the comfort of their couch."
Full Story
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