Receive new posts as email.
RSS 0.91 | RSS 2.0
RDF | Atom
Podcast only feed (RSS 2.0 format)
Get an RSS reader
Get a Podcast receiver
| Sun | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
This site operates as an independent editorial operation. Advertising, sponsorships, and other non-editorial materials represent the opinions and messages of their respective origins, and not of the site operator or JiWire, Inc.
Entire site and all contents except otherwise noted © Copyright 2001-2006 by Glenn Fleishman. Some images ©2006 Jupiterimages Corporation. All rights reserved. Please contact us for reprint rights. Linking is, of course, free and encouraged.
Powered by
Movable Type
« Long Ferry Route in Washington State Lags on Wi-Fi | Main | EyeFi Moves Closer to Market on Universal Camera Adapter »
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system that links up much of the San Francisco Bay Area is in the first phases of a Wi-Fi rollout: As reported on this site earlier, through intelligence from veteran Wi-Fi guru Matt Peterson, Wi-Fi Rail has been turning on Wi-Fi at BART stations without any publicity. The company says that 1,000 riders have used the Wi-Fi service so far, with more each day (look for a spike today, no?).
The current test involves four stations in San Francisco (Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center). The test could lead to Wi-Fi Rail getting a contract to install service through the system’s stations. They will likely charge $10 per day, $30 per month, or $300 per year.
While those interviewed in this article aren’t jumping up and down about Wi-Fi, that’s probably because of the lack of continuity of service at this moment. Most transportation-based Internet access—ferry, plane, or bus—offers service that starts and ends at stations or stops, but is available throughout. That’s a long-term goal for this installation, according to BART. When people realize they can stay connected on a phone call, or use a handheld device with Wi-Fi throughout a trip, they’ll be a bit more enthusiastic than they are about whipping out a laptop at a station.
While Wi-Fi is an option on several long-haul/cross-country trains in Canada, the UK, and Sweden, adoption in commuter rail, light rail, and subway systems will likely take quite a bit more testing before becoming commonplace. The challenges of routing signals across complex routes, much of which might involve underground tunnels, adds a lot of cost and complexity in planning, installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting.
Posted by Glennf at June 11, 2007 1:56 PM
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://db.isbn.nu/mt3/mt-tb.pl/4624
WiFi Rail does not want commuters to pay $10 for sitting on the platform for a few minutes. Nor does it want commuters to pay $10, nor $1, per day for limited access. Subscribers will average $1 or less per day when the service is deployed throughout BART.
WiFi Rail will delivery a mobile high-speed WiFi service which is contiguous throughout a commuters transport. WiFi Rail will cover the stations and areas surrounding the stations, i.e. parking lots, to provide commuters with convenient access to the Internet allowing additional hours of productivity.
The WiFi Rail network delivers service faster than that which can be contracted at your home or small office. The wireless connections are consolidated via fiber-optics and the switched to the Internet via a direct fiber-optic connection to the Internet backbone. In favorable RF conditions more than 20 Mbps have been achieved.
The vision is that commuters can watch real time TV, video conference, or talk Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) without interruption throughout their journey. This includes the stations, trains, and sorrounding areas.
[Editor's note: This was posted by WiFi Rail's CEO.-gf]
Posted by: Cooper Lee at June 12, 2007 1:52 AM
The problem I see with this at BART is the fact that most people don't have to wait that long at a BART station for their train. Hopefully they just hook up with a national provider (iPass or whatever) and get their revenue that way, I have doubts that a large number of people will pay $10 for their 20 minute wait and (usually) no place to sit.
Posted by: Rick ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wifinetnews.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 11, 2007 3:05 PM