Wireless Future News 5.25.2004 Wireless and FriesWayport's deal with McDonald's is getting a lot of buzz, like this article at Wi-Fi Planet that describes Wayport's business model for "Wi-Fi World," where McDonald's pays Wayport a monthly fixed price.
Wi-Fi, he says, gives McDonald's a real differentiator over other quick service restaurants (QSRs). In fact, during the trial phase, surveys indicated that 72% of the patrons asked might not have come to the store that day if Wi-Fi hadn't been available -- a number that made the restaurant giant, which has been losing customers for the last few years, stand up and take serious notice. 5.24.2004 Austin Wireless Alliance Newsletter - May 2004May 2004 In this issue: * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Wi-Fi Alliance, http://www.wi-fi.org, the worldwide certification
body for wireless products bearing the Wi-Fi trademark, has relocated its
headquarters from Mountain View, California, to Austin, Texas, and has
officially joined the Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) at the IC2
Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, http://ati.ic2.org. The organization's move to Austin reinforces the growing momentum
that the wireless industry has seen in the Austin area over the past year.
A recent study by the IC2 Institute identified over 90 companies in
Austin involved in the wireless sector. More than $50 million in venture
capital has been invested in wireless-related companies in Austin over
the last six months. The Wi-Fi Alliance's selection of ATI for its
headquarters bolsters its critical mass, which ATI is building to catalyze
the growth of wireless industries in Austin. ATI houses five wireless companies and is recruiting new ones. "The synergies that are created at ATI by bringing together
entrepreneurs, established firms in the wireless sector, research, faculty,
and students from the University of Texas, the city government, and
chamber of commerce are exactly what Austin needs to be successful,"
said Frank Hanzlik, managing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "As a
member of the ATI, the Wi-Fi Alliance is committed to actively helping
make young wireless companies successful." ATI membership is open to a wide variety of entrepreneurial companies.
In the wireless sector, companies focusing on wireless semiconductor
and infrastructure technology, mobile gaming and entertainment, and
wireless data applications will benefit greatly from ATI. "We are
actively pursuing the brightest and most proven entrepreneurs in Austin
that are seeking to create companies that deliver products or services that
leverage wireless technology," said Erin Defosse, director of the
information technology and wireless division at ATI. "By collocating
with organizations like the Wi-Fi Alliance, these entrepreneurs have
unprecedented access to the right network of people with highly valuable
know-how and connections in the wireless industry. The Wi-Fi Alliance
adds exceptional value by bringing to Austin a network of people that
form part of the biggest and most successful wireless companies in the
industry." The Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) of the
University of Texas hosted an open house Wednesday, April 28, in its
newly renovated lab and office space on the fourth floor of the UT
Engineering Science Building. WNCG Director Dr. Ted Rappaport provided an overview of WNCG's
growth since its launch in the fall of 2002, and laid out a vision for a
broader effort of cooperation among other premier Texas wireless
programs. Ben Streetman, dean of the College of Engineering, and
Michael Rollins, president of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, also
spoke about the success of the WNCG program and its role in
galvanizing the wireless industry in Central Texas. They were joined by
UT graduate Steve Papermaster, chairman of Powershift Ventures and a
current member of the President's Council of Advisors in Science and
Technology, who also spoke about the importance of strengthening
technology research programs. Rappaport reminded attendees to plan for the annual WNCG Symposium
in October 2004 and announced the increased participation in WNCG
activities of several companies, including Dell and AMD.
http://www.ece.utexas.edu/wncg/ The Austin Wireless Alliance (AWA) is pleased to announce that
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Solomio; Greg Williams, COO of Wayport;
and Jimmy Treybig, NEA Associates, have joined the 15-memberAWA
Steering Committee. The AWA Steering Committee has also elected a
new chairman, Erin Defosse, director of the IT and Wireless Division of
the Austin Technology Incubator. "The opportunities in front of us to develop the wireless industry in
Austin are enormous. I am very excited about working with every
member of AWA to turn our vision of Austin as a global leader in
wireless into reality," said Defosse. Outgoing chairman Randall Baker of Tuanis Technology continues as a
member of the Steering Committee. "I am honored to have had the
opportunity to work with such a distinguished group of people," said
Baker. "Transitioning to Erin's leadership allows the organization to take
the next step in fulfilling our goal of becoming a premier wireless
center." Fellow AWA Members, A New Chairman On April 15 the steering committee of the AWA elected me as the new
Chairman of the Austin Wireless Alliance. I am taking over the role that
Randy Baker so aptly filled as founder of the organization. We owe
Randy the very existence of our organization and I ask that you join me
in recognizing his efforts by saying "Thank You!" the next time you
cross paths, talk to him on the phone, or send him an email. Randy will
continue to serve on the steering committee and he and I will work hand
in hand to continue on the great work that he has done to date. Building the AWA Brand I want to thank everyone for the vote of confidence and would like to
convey to you that I am very excited about taking on the opportunities
and challenges ahead of us. One of the major opportunities that we will
work on together this year is that of building the AWA brand. Our goal is
that AWA become universally recognized as the leadership circle for the
wireless movement currently underway in Austin. For this to happen, we will be working closely with every stakeholder in
our community to establish AWA as the organization that helps define
and articulate our common goals and acts as the coordinating body
between all stakeholders. This is no small feat but we are already making
progress. We are working with the Chamber of Commerce to develop the
programs necessary for the Chamber to sell Austin as a center of
excellence in the wireless industry to companies that are considering
locating offices in Austin, we are working with organizations like UT's
WNCG to hold joint wireless events of global stature, we are cooperating
with the Austin Technology Incubator to help build new wireless
companies in Austin and convince major players in the wireless industry
to invest in our community, we are working with the Austin Wireless
City Project to leverage the phenomenal work they have done in turning
Austin into one of the most unwired cities in the country, and we are
actively participating in the development of the plans that will allow
Austin to demonstrate its leadership in wireless during the World
Congress of Information Technology to be held in Austin in May of
2006. These and other opportunities ahead of us will require everyone's
positive involvement in order for us to succeed. I urge every one of you
to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions that will help move
our plans forward. You can reach me via email at
edefosse@ati.utexas.edu or by phone at 512-799-8797. Kind Regards, Austin Wireless City Project unplugs downtown parks with free WiFi This month, the Austin Wireless City Project (AWC) delivers free WiFi
to downtown historic squares and Palmer Auditorium Shores. The
celebration is 18 May, noon to 1pm at Republic Square as the Austin
Park Foundation and AWC team up with the City of Austin, Downtown
Alliance and Schlotzsky's to bring free WiFi to three historic parks and
Palmer Auditorium Shores.http://www.austinwirelesscity.org McDonald's orders Wi-Fi from Austin's Wayport McDonald's chose Austin-based Wayport Inc. to provide high-speed
broadband connectivity andWi-Fi 802.11b/g high-speed Internet service
in the U.S. Walk-up customers pay $2.95 for a two-hour wireless Internet
connection, with other pricing options available from Wayport, including
a $29.95/month unlimited use plan across the entire Wayport network.
Service options via roaming partners will be announced.
http://www.mcdwireless.com and http://www.wayport.net "Austin, Texas: A wireless sector mecca?" from Telephony Online
http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_austin_texas_wireless/index.htm Send your news to: mailto:awa@technopolis.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * May 4-5 At the summit, the AWA sponsors a CEO panel on Wednesday, May 5,
featuring Ed Acosta as moderator and Chere' Heintzmann (Extend
America) and Chris Davis (Metrowerks). This panel will explore the
business opportunities in the wireless sector. ATC extends a special
invitation to the wireless business community to sit in on the Summit for
this panel. AWA Panel 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., "Where are the business opportunities in
wireless?" This session will provide a high level overview of Austin's existing
wireless industry, as well as discuss additional wireless investment
opportunities on the horizon. In the first part of the session, a two
dimensional framework positions all of Austin's wireless companies and
each company's role the wireless value chain and frequency spectrum. In
the second part of the session, additional investment opportunities will be
discussed with a panel of executives from three of Austin's wireless
companies. Each panelist will give a brief introduction of their company
and the opportunity they are pursuing, as well as describe one additional
opportunity they see in the wireless industry. Following the
introductions, the audience will have a chance to ask questions about
panelist-described and other opportunities. May 24 List your event. Send details to: mailto:awa@technopolis.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Austin Wireless Alliance Austin Technology Council Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce University of Texas Wireless Networking & Communications Group
(WNCG) University of Texas IC2 Wireless Future
http://www.wirelessfuture.org/ Wi-Fi Alliance The Austin Wireless Alliance (AWA) is a non-profit organization
that leads the development, coordination, and execution of all
major strategic wireless innitiatives in Austin. Its primary
objective is to develop and sustain Austin as a globally recognized
leader in business activity, technical innovation, and community
participation within the wireless industry. The AWA is composed of
key leaders from all primary stakeholders in Austin including the
business, academic, community, and government sectors. The AWA
operates in partnership with the Austin Technology Council. Additional
information about AWA is available on the AWA web site at
http://www.austinwirelessalliance.org The AWA Newsletter is edited by Steve Leon, president of
Technopolis® Communications Inc., http://www.technopolis.com. PR
for software, hardware, Internet, services and wireless companies. Co-
producer of ShowStoppers, http://www.showstoppers.com, media-only
special events. FEEDBACK Send us your ideas. Or articles. Or events. We're listening.
mailto:awa at technopolis.com. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES The AWA Newsletter is delivered to members and friends of the Austin
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mailto:lmaxfield at cfaulknerengineering.com To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to: 5.19.2004 Free WiFi in Austin Parks
On May 18, the City of Austin launched WiFi in the parks with an event at Republic Square Park, the first park to get the service, which is provided by the City in a collaboration with the nonprofit Austin Wireless City Project. [Link to article in dBusinessNews - Austin Metro Edition] | [Link to Photos from the event.] 5.3.2004 In Austin, Paving a Way Past Invisible TollboothsAustin Wireless City is the focus of a May 4 article in the New York Times, written by John Schwartz, a University of Texas graduate who researched the article when he was in Austin recently.
That might sound a little like the unfortunate if-you-build-it-they-will-come fantasy of the dot-com bubble. But Gary Chapman, the director of the 21st Century Project at the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs in Austin, has written glowingly about the network and Mr. MacKinnon's company, which he sees as "kind of an anti-dot-com, or perhaps an Austin-weird way of doing things, but a model that could take off." 5.1.2004 Wireless and Homeland DefenseComing up in Washington, D.C.: Homeland Defense Jorunal is sponsoring a training conference on Mobile and Wireless Applications and Solutions on Wednesday, June 2.
Other federal, state and local agencies view mobile and wireless communications as a potential enabler of improved communications and reduced cost of operations.
These technologies will also help field health and medical personnel report, track and coordinate field response to biological and chemical terror attacks faster than ever before possible. There are even plans for small, wearable devices that sense bio-hazardous substances. |
