Google will help set up a two-story, 8,000 square-foot headquarters for hundreds of bloggers descending on the Democratic convention in Denver next week, reports the Wall Street Journal. It will offer similar services at the Republican convention in September, as new media gain influence in politics.
Google stands to gain exposure and goodwill from 500 or so bloggers who paid $100 for access to the facility, run by a coalition of bloggers. Google’s software and services will be featured, including a kiosk in the public area of the tent where anyone can post videos on YouTube.
Four years ago, YouTube hadn’t been founded yet. Now, it will have booths at each convention to help delegates and bloggers upload videos taken on the floor or at events around town.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us. You don’t get all these people in one place but every four years,” says Robert Boorstin, director of corporate and policy communications in Google’s Washington office and a former Clinton administration official.
Verizon Wireless expects to handle 5 million more calls and data transmissions than normal during the August 25-28 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver. It is adding three new cell sites downtown and installing a fully-functional, mobile “Cell on Wheels” (COW) near the convention location allowing thousands of extra calls and data transmissions to take place. Back-up microwave facilities are also installed in the event of fiber-line interruption or other landline connection failure.
Sprint is also prepared for the conventions in Denver (Democrats) and St. Paul (Republicans). The company’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) will deploy a Satellite Cellsite on Light Truck (SATCOLT) to stand by in case of weather-related power outages or increased call volume from other unforeseen disasters. The SATCOLT is designed to give users a mobile cell tower experience while other towers or sites are repaired or at capacity.
ADC’s InterReach Unison system delivers multi-carrier cellular coverage in the Colorado Convention Center and Denver International Airport
.gif)
