Coffee Shop A Hot Spot For Communication
Newcastle Herald
Monday August 11, 2003
PROFESSIONALS will be able to keep networking even when they are escaping the daily grind of the office following the launch of a new WiFi exchange in Newcastle today.
In line with trends in the United States and Europe, Gloria Jean's Coffees in Hunter Street has become a WiFi hot spot ready for the business community.
WiFi hot spots are widely found in hotels, airport lounges and coffee shops, giving business people high-speed access to their corporate information when they are out and about.
WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity, a wireless local area network, which provides broadband access at higher data speeds without having to plug into a wall.
Optus Mobile became the first major carrier in Australia to launch commercial WiFi on March 3 this year.
Optus chose Gloria Jean's coffee shop on the corner of Newcomen and Hunter streets as part of its national wireless network and will be an exclusive Optus ``wireless connect" location in Newcastle until at least 2004.
Local store owner Sherida Anthony said she was excited about the opportunities the new service offered business professionals.
``They now can have easy access to state of the art communications facilities while they are enjoying a cup of their favourite coffee," Ms Anthony said.
``Optus has sought key destination locations, or hot spots, for its network and the selection of our store emphasises Newcastle's place as a thriving commercial centre."
The CBD location was ideal for mobile professionals when they needed high-speed access to corporate information while they were out of the office or between appointments in the city.
Optus business mobile director Peter Acheson said mobile professionals, such as senior executives, consultants and salespeople, were high users of mobile phones and often carried laptops.
WiFi offered the ability to download larger chunks of information faster using laptops, at a speed 20 times faster than a home dial-up.
Optus expects to establish about 500 hot spots nationally over the next 12 to 18 months. Each hot spot features an ``Optus Wireless Connect" sign at the front door.
The launch, by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate, will be at Gloria Jean's Coffees tonight followed by a demonstration of the innovative service.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald
