Melbourne gets free Wi-Fi Internet trial - News - Communications

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Melbourne gets free Wi-Fi Internet trial

By Stephen Withers, 0
October 02, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Melbourne-gets-free-Wi-Fi-Internet-trial/0,130061791,120268736,00.htm

A free trial of high-speed wireless Internet access is available at a variety of venues in Melbourne through the Azure Wireless network.

CBD locations include the Windsor Hotel, Collins Place and Bourke Place, plus three sites on St Kilda Road and another at The Point Restaurant at the north end of Albert Park. In approximately two weeks time the service will also go live in an extended zone covering approximately 30 venues around the junction of King and Collins Streets.

Azure will soon extend its coverage to Sydney. Business development director David Taylor said -We're hoping to duplicate what we've done in Melbourne... by the end of this year." Details of the Sydney venues have not been revealed, but Taylor said they would be at prominent CBD and North Sydney locations. Company plans also call for expansion into Brisbane and Perth by next April. -We think the potential in this country for wireless is enormous," he said.

Although Azure initially dealt with venue operators such as cafÃƒÂ© owners, attention has shifted to property managers as one contract can cover multiple locations around the country. The operator or manager gains from making the venue more attractive than its competitors, and also receives a percentage of the revenue generated at that location.

The company is using 802.11 (WiFi) technology, so users only need the hardware and software already installed in their notebooks or handhelds for use with internal WLANs. Windows, Mac OS, Pocket PC and Handheld PC are all fully supported by the company, and VPN software can be used if required.

The free trial is for a limited but unspecified period. When charging begins, the cost will be AU$13.20 per hour, and users will have the choice of three ways to pay: through their existing ISP account (currently only Primus has signed with Azure, but up to six other ISPs may join the scheme shortly), by using a prepaid access card, or by an online credit card transaction. Although Azure is mainly concerned with wholesale arrangements, provision of ad hoc access may play an important role in getting people to try the service once the free trial ends.

Taylor expects to be running 200 hotspots by the end of 2003, and reaching 60 percent of local Internet users through agreements with ISPs. Azure expects to announce its first roaming agreement with another wireless operator in the next few weeks, he added.