Thousands of people read this page every day. You can reach them in this spot by sponsoring Wi-Fi Networking News
The above could be a paid, sponsored link. Email for more information.
Subscribe to essays from this site via email. Email to subscribe, or sign up via your Yahoo account.
More chain numbers: Yesterday, in discussing Frank Boosman and my conversation about the largest chains in the US, I listed several he researched, mostly food-oriented. Jacques Caron wrote in to suggest that gas stations, mid-range hotels, and convenience stores should also be considered.
I'd agree in part: gas stations and convenience stores wouldn't be places people could work, but they could recharge: check email, download files, transmit information. There are some deals afoot in the US and abroad with both kinds of retail location, such as Circle K.
Mid-range hotels would make much more sense, although they require more infrastructure -- more access points and wiring -- to serve. I did a little quick research to get some numbers on the largest non-premium hotels. These days, many business travelers who used to stay at W, Hilton, Radisson, etc., are staying at Best Western, Holiday Inn, Quality Inn, and Comfort Inn.
US hotel numbers for several major chains and ownership groups:
- Choice Hotels International (operating franchises as Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Rodeway Inn, Econo Lodge and MainStay Suites): 3,434 (as of 9/02)
- Six Continents (including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge): 3,200 (worldwide, no US breakout)
- Best Western: 2,161
- Hilton (including Hampton Inn, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, and Homewood Suites by Hilton): 2,000
- Radisson: 435 (worldwide; no US breakout)
- La Quinta: 300
Reuters on 802.11g
Lightly informed Reuters article on 802.1g: Is it my job to act as the unofficial reporter of errors on wireless in news reports? I guess so. The reporter says that Wireless G is the name of the new technology, when that's Linksys's trademarked name for its 802.11g equipment. It says the new equipment is 50 percent more when that's probably worth mentioning that it's just temporary, and Apple shed $50 to $100 off its 802.11b device. 802.11b equipment prices will plummet as they're phased out when g is ratified and certified Wi-Fi.
The general point, a little lost, is that home users should have other new uses for more bandwidth for home entertainment equipment. I'll get on my soapbox for a moment: Only if the various interests engaged in promoting the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) stop their fight against fair use. If the recording and movie and television industries succeed at their attempt to control the entry and exit of all digital media from all devices for any purpose, then you won't be allowed to stream media from your DVD player to your TV or your CD player to a receiver on the other end of the house. This is another reason why the electronics companies should be ont the side of consumers.
(Full disclosure; I'm a plaintiff in the Newmark v. Turner case handled by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in which I and four other ReplayTV owners have prophyactically sued a variety of media companies to protect the interests of consumer fair use and privacy, specifically time shifting, space shifting, and commercial skipping. There's no money involved, just our rights.)