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Trial hotspots go ‘live’ as BT Openzone makes public Wi-Fi broadband a reality[June 24th 2002]BT Openzone launched as trial public Wi-Fi (wireless LAN) "hotspots" go "live".* Hilton Hotels, Bluewater and Earl's Court Olympia become first site partners. * Existing and potential partners could provide more than 4,000 "hotspots". * Motorola will pilot the "BT Openzone" service with 100 of its employees. * Up to 50 percent discount until the end of the year for early subscribers when service becomes commercially available. Mobile broadband today (Monday, 24 June) became a reality as BT kick-started the creation of the UK's first Public Access Wireless LAN network with the launch of "BT Openzone" and the announcement of its first major site partners. BT's swift progress to deliver 400 BT Openzone "hotspots" by June 2003, as announced in April, follows the Government's decision two weeks ago to give Public Access WLAN in the UK the green light. Trial BT Openzone "hotspots" go "live" today at the Heathrow Hilton, BT Centre in London and the company's development centre at Adastral Park in Suffolk. It is planned that up to 20 "hotspots" will be operational by the commercial launch on 1 August, with around 70 being in place by the end of December this year. As well as Hilton Hotels, BT has agreed deals with Bluewater and Earl's Court Olympia. Discussions are also proceeding with Travel Inn, with a trial likely to be run soon at the company's Euston site in London. Advanced negotiations with a number of other potential partners could yield up to 4,500 additional sites. The "hotspots", branded BT Openzones, give business travellers and commuters the chance to experience the flexibility of mobile working combined with the power and speed of BT's broadband network. The BT Openzone service will be available free of charge for trials until the end of July, after which it becomes a legal commercial offering. Pierre Danon, chief executive officer, BT Retail said: "The Government's decision to make Public Access Wireless LAN a reality was great news for BT and we have acted quickly to get it up-and-running and give our customers the chance to benefit from high-speed, high-volume mobile working. Interest and reaction has been very positive and we are delighted to announce our first site partners at this early stage. The launch of BT Openzone and the trialling of our first "live" hotspots is just the beginning of our vision to connect our customers, wherever they are. "Our work to date puts us in an excellent position to deliver 400 BT Openzone sites by June next year and then 4,000 by June 2005. This is great news for BT because it means we are on track to generate new revenues of at least £30m a year by the end of 2005", added Danon. Mike Langston, managing director of BT Retail Products and Enterprises, said: "BT is at the forefront of a mobile, broadband-powered way of working - something we believe is essential for businesses to achieve the agility they need to compete and succeed in today's market place. BT Openzone gives our customers greater flexibility and control and enables their employees to work effectively wherever they are - in the office, on the move or "on the pause". All an employee needs is a laptop, a Wireless LAN PC card and to be within range of a BT Openzone "hotspot". Corporate pilot for BT Openzone service: First corporate user of the BT Openzone service, apart from BT itself, will be Motorola, which is already making it available to 100 of its employees as a pilot initiative. Motorola is also working with BT and Cisco Systems to build the BT Openzone network. www.BT.com/openzone
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