Intel is providing Wi-Fi to about 400 Marriott hotels in the United States, Canada and several countries in Europe. The venture will help Intel drive awareness of hot spots and wireless technologies and also verify wireless compatibility with their new Centrino family of chips and related products.
Marriott is partnering with STSN, based in Salt Lake City, which will serve as the wireless Internet provider. STSN is receiving an infusion of capital from the Intel Communications Fund, which has said it is investing $150 million in several companies pursuing the development of WiFi technology.
Earlier this month, Intel said it would work with hotel chain Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide to make wireless Internet access available in more than 150 Sheraton, Westin and W hotels in the United States.
Meanwhile, Boingo says their Wi-Fi network now is in over 1,200 airports, hotels, cafes and other hot spot locations worldwide. Boingo hotels are reportedly in all top 20 metropolitan markets in the U.S.
T-Mobile says they have over 2,000 HotSpots in Starbucks and Borders Books.
Cometa Networks, the joint venture of Intel, IBM and AT&T, plans to fire all their guns at once and explode into space with 20,000 “hot spots” never more than “5 minutes away”. It just might work if AT&T uses powerline transmission of broadband. Just plug ‘em in. VoIP.
All is made clear. Hot spot providers may not need to order an extra phone line. That could make for tougher competition in last mile wireless and put a nail into “3G”. Which is okay. That means cellular companies will have to look into “4G” solutions. Which might be terrific news for consumers. That’s competition!
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