Accessing the Internet from airports, hotels and
other wireless “hotspots” just got easier with Dell

today announcing that
two products in its Latitude(TM) notebook family are now shipping with
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) capability as a standard feature.
 
Based on customer feedback and the boom in the use of wireless technology,
Dell`s Latitude C400 and X200 ultra portable notebooks begin shipping today in
the United States, and will begin shipping next month in Europe and Japan,
with the ability to tap the Internet from any location enabled with high-speed
Wi-Fi(R) (802.11b) wireless access.  The standard feature will allow users to
get up to 11Mbps access to the Web on private networks at home and at work and
in public locations through a wireless Internet service provider.  (Range and
speed will vary according to environmental and other factors.)  Through its
Truemobile(TM) wireless products, Dell offers a complete suite of wireless
solutions for home or office.
 
To help further drive awareness of public Wi-Fi locations, Dell has
coordinated with Wayport, a leading provider of high-speed Wi-Fi wireless and
wired Internet access in more than 475 hotels and 10 airports, to offer Dell`s
U.S. customers discounted memberships and a limited-time offer of 30 days
access at no charge(1).  The offer is available from Wayport
for customers using Dell Latitude and Inspiron(TM)
notebooks with WLAN capability.
 
“Our ultra-portable notebook customers are using their systems in a wider
variety of environments, taking advantage of high-speed Internet access
wherever they can.  Wireless LANs and hotspots are growing at a phenomenal
rate worldwide, and through our partnership with Wayport, we are helping
notebook users increase their productivity and efficiency,” Anthony Bonadero,
director of Dell portables marketing, said.  “We expect to see wireless LAN
capability as a standard feature on virtually all Dell Latitude notebooks in
the near future.”
 
According to a recent Strategy Trends & Tactics document by Gartner
Inc., the number of public wireless LAN hotspots worldwide will increase
from slightly more than 1,000 at the end of 2001 to more than 21,000 at the
end of 2004.
 
Another Strategy Trends & Tactics document by Gartner published in August
supports the cost effectiveness of purchasing notebooks with internal wireless
LAN capability versus adding the capability after the sale.
  Dell Latitude notebooks are rugged, powerful and stable systems that are
ideal for networked environments, Bonadero said.  A variety of docking
capabilities and TrueMobile(TM) Wireless technology make Latitude the perfect
choice for mobile users and those seeking a desktop alternative, he said.
 
Related stories on ITN:

(03/01/2003) Davidson Hotel Offers Wireless Internet Access

(17/12/2002) Six Continents Expands Wireless & Online Reservations

(19/11/2002) Inmarsat Unveils World`s Fastest Portable Wireless Data Service

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