Australian wireless broadband service provider SkyNetGlobal has announced its pricing plan to give business travellers quicker and more reliable access to the Internet, remotely - which the company claims to be a first outside the United States.
SkyNetGlobal's (SNG) broadband wireless service enables business travellers to access emails, the Internet and office networks in airports, hotels and convention centres without modems, plugs or cords.
"There is no competition here in Australia, it's the first of a new generation of services," the company said.
Users need a wireless PC card called an IEEE 802.1lb to access the service through a SNG-enabled location. The card is either inserted into the PC slot of a lap-top computer or special sleeves on handheld devices.
The card normally retails for AU$400 and can be bought through the company or most computer distributors. There is no set-up charge or connection fee.
The broadband wireless service operates only from SkyNetGlobal-enabled locations, such as Qantas lounges and a raft of hotels throughout the country.
"SkyNet is also rolling out its service progressively throughout Qantas lounges around the world," a compnay spokesperson said.
The service provider has also signed a "roaming agreement" with US-based MobileStar, and has over 80 sites globally which subscribers can access while travelling.
SNG wireless network is a subscription-based service available through five different pricing plans, ranging from AU$20 to AU$190.
"Up until now, most business travellers have no alternative but to use a traditional dial-up roaming ISP service, which is slow and restricted to where a telephone line is located," a company statement said.
SkyNetGlobal has recently signed a deal with Hong Kong's Chinachem Group to rollout the service throughout Asia.
The joint venture will allow SNG to deploy its broadband wireless network throughout airports in the region, and to extend coverage throughout the city of Hong Kong through Chinachem's 200 commercial buildings.
