FatPort, a leading provider of wireless high- speed Internet access in Canada is working with Intel to market hot spots in hotels, airports, coffee shops, entertainment complexes, and other public places. The program coincides with the upcoming March introduction of Intel’s Centrino for notebook PCs that feature built-in wireless.
FatPort and Intel are conducting engineering testing or verification of the Intel Centrino mobile technology on FatPort’s network. The two companies are also collaborating on a new signage program that will inform users when they are in a FatPort FatZone that has been tested to work together with Intel Centrino mobile technology. A regional marketing and advertising campaign is planned.
The installation of FatPort hot spots is complete in 42 FatZones primarily in Vancouver and Western Canada. Many other locations will be wirelessly accessible by the end of the year.
FatPort’s solid-state access point ($525), uses a 300MHz fan-less i386 processor with 128MB RAM, and a 32 MB Compact Flash with CompactBSD pre-installed.
Hot spot competitor Pronto Networks (Pdf specs) has a similar solid state box using an x86 processor, 64MB RAM and 16 MB Compact Flash. They have received investments from Intel Capital and plan to use Navini’s S-CDMA for wireless “first mile” backbone connectivity.
Boingo also teams with Pronto along with other hot spot providers for billing services. Boingo’s hardware partners include Colubris, Nomadix and Vernier which provide solutions that embed a Wi-Fi interoperable access point, integrated firewall and router. Boingo supplies both a W-ISP in a Box and a Hot Spot in a Box (a $695 Colubris CN3000 pre-configured with Boingo’s communication tools for billing and AAA). No official announcement from Boingo on any cross-promotional venture with Intel.
Intel, of course, is planning the mother of all hot spot networks with IBM and AT&T. Cometa Networks should begin their roll out later this year.
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