Seattle is now the most unwired city in America, according to Intel Corporation’s third annual “Most Unwired Cities” survey released today.
In a rapidly changing wireless landscape, Seattle narrowly unseated former top position holders San Francisco (2004′s Most Unwired City) and Portland, Ore. (2003′s Most Unwired City).
Seattle-area residents can now stay connected, informed and entertained throughout the city, from the original Starbucks at Pike Place Market and the Bank of America Tower to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Space Needle.
This year’s survey indicate that WiFi connectivity in public places is becoming part of everyday life in America. Businesses use WiFi as a competitive advantage to attract customers, and cities use it to enhance livability and quality of life. Consumers are discovering WiFi hotspots at an increasingly diverse range of locations — from airports and hotels to laundromats and baseball parks.
“Wireless is becoming a fundamental part of how we live,” said Bert Sperling of Sperling’s Best Places, which conducted the surveys. “The ability to access information and entertainment when and where you want it is simply irresistible to business people seeking greater productivity and consumers who live an on-the-go lifestyle.”
The Top 10 Unwired Regions in the United States
- Seattle-Bellevue-Everett-Tacoma, Wash.
- San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland, Calif.
- Austin, Texas
- Portland, Ore.-Vancouver, Wash
- Toledo, Ohio
- Atlanta
- Denver
- Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
- Orange County, Calif.
Making the biggest jump over last year, Baton Rouge, La. climbed 67 spots to crack the top 20. The complete list of Intel’s “Most Unwired Cities” is available at www.intel.com/go/unwiredcities.
In addition to identifying the top unwired regions, the survey found increasing diversity in the types of places where WiFi is being offered, including:
- Legacy Golf Resort – Phoenix
- Chelsea Piers – New York
- SBC Park – San Francisco
- King County Library – Seattle
- Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, Kan.
- Loveland Ski Area – Georgetown, Colo.
- Dirtwood Skatepark – Houston
- Waveland Bowl – Chicago
The most unwired college campuses in the nation and the most unwired airports and most unwired hotels are also listed.
Market research firm IDC predicts that wireless-enabled laptop PCs will represent 100 percent of laptop PC sales in 2007, up from 65 percent in 2004.
The poll also revealed that four out of five (80 percent) respondents with a wireless home network now use their computers in more rooms in and around their home. In addition, online adults with a wireless home network enjoy being able to spend more time surfing the Internet (59 percent), e-mailing friends and family (49 percent) and sharing photos (29 percent) more now than they did before installing their wireless home network.
Overall, the top benefit cited for deploying or considering a wireless home network was having the freedom and flexibility to log on from more places in and around the house (58 percent) — with the bedroom (41 percent), living room (40 percent) and backyard (34 percent) topping the most desired computing locations.
“WiFi has changed the communications landscape, but it’s only the beginning,” said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Mobility Group. “WiMAX is the next broadband technology innovation that promises to bring wireless computing and connectivity to more people than ever before.”
As wireless broadband expands beyond the confines of building walls to citywide coverage, Intel is working with business and community leaders through a Digital Cities initiative to help develop the infrastructure and innovative services that meet the needs of local governments, citizens and businesses.
The Digital Cities initiative (above), provides a map of the tools — broadband connectivity, core computing technologies and interoperable applications — to help enable mobile workers, transform government services, increase economic vitality and enhance the livability of communities.
Survey findings for the 2005 “Most Unwired Cities” are based on the number of commercial and public or “free” wireless access points (hotspots), airports with wireless access, and broadband availability. The survey also included community wireless access points, local wireless networks and wireless e-mail devices.
The metro areas included in the survey were the 100 largest in the United States and based on the definitions of Metropolitan Statistical Areas from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The data was also calculated at the per-capita level to determine how many people share hotspots within a given city or region.
Data was collected from a variety of industry sources between Jan. 1 and April 15, 2005 and weighted across a 100-point scale to allow comparison between categories.
Notebook computers have surpassed desktop sales in the U.S., reports an industry research group, Current Analysis. They noted that notebooks made up 53.3 percent of the personal computer market in May, up from 45.9 percent a year ago.
