Free Wi-Fi a marketing partnership made in heaven

Free Wi-Fi is something we have all grown to expect rather than be shocked by. Be it in cafés, town centres, or on public transport we expect to be able to connect, for free. In New York, commuters can currently access free Wi-Fi throughout December whilst travelling along the city’s subway network. But, not only is it free, it is also sponsored, by Visit Phoenix.

Take a cab full of cold commuters, tourists and visitors and give them free access to Wi-Fi. But, in order to allow them access, they have to watch a short film showcasing Phoenix’s warm weather, luxury pools and vacation spots. Who wouldn't reach the office and look to book to escape the bitter temperatures and tourist infiltration of NYC throughout December?

New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority states that more than 137 million passengers use the subway each month. That’s a huge highly captive audience hungry for data and connectivity just waiting to be advertised to. The opportunity for firms to pitch for the free Wi-Fi log in page each month is huge. Every month a different company or even location hot spot can reach its prime target audience. With more searches conducted via smart phones and tablets than any other device, targeting people while they’re trying to get online is perfect. They also can’t access the free Wi-Fi without doing so, they really are, captive.

There is also the opportunity for the investment made by the advertisers to be returned to the subway system ensuring maintenance can be carried out and the daily running costs of offering free Wi-Fi can be easily covered.

But how many cities and transport companies are utilising this valuable marketing tool? The large companies actually providing the Wi-Fi like O2 and Virgin have had the publicity of providing free Wi-Fi on the London Underground, but have they really cashed in when other companies could be paying for the privilege of a simple log in screen? Providing a log in portal also ensures each individual user’s details can be captured. Then of course there is the data capture of users details, including email, allowing further marketing of products and services, providing they opt in.

Surely in this digital age Wi-Fi marketing has to become part of the digital marketing mix, if it isn't already? Companies like Visit Phoenix are not only gaining publicity of their brand through the log in portal but by also offering commuters the ‘gift of free Wi-Fi’.  But it’s not just the commuters who will benefit. Busy tourists who often don’t have free Wi-Fi as part of their hotel package can now upload their holiday snaps whilst travelling on the subway and maybe plan their next trip, to Phoenix?

More than half of public Wi-Fi open to abuse

A recent survey by Purple Wi-Fi has found that more than half of public Wi-Fi networks are open to abuse from criminals. By law, premises providing public Wi-Fi should be able to track back to the user. However, the survey suggests that more than six in ten venues across the globe are not meeting this basic requirement.

With Wi-Fi now available in nearly every high street store, café and public venue, without the correct security in place the free access can be a hive for criminal activity. Some locations were even found not to have URL filters on their Internet meaning users could access any form of content without restriction.

So how do you monitor and rectify this situation? Education is one way, when people opt into offering their customers free Wi-Fi, how much do they really know about the accompanying laws and regulations that should accompany it?

The choice of installer and products that they use should also be considered. At APC Solutions we work with top manufactures such as Ruckus and BlueSocket to name but a few, installing Wi-Fi for our clients, globally. When liaising with the client we always ensure their IT department is up to speed with the current regulations. Particularly when we work within the public sector, security at universities, schools and public buildings is paramount and therefore the network we install or public Wi-Fi must be secure and must allow user traceability.

However, for smaller businesses which are looking to install Wi-Fi independently there must be stricter enforcement of common practice in place.  And this, we believe, is down to the manufactures. Products should not be brought to market without the capabilities to track back to the user and protect against unfavourable content. Small businesses simply can’t afford an IT team to manage this for them but they do need to be able to offer their customers Wi-Fi and this Wi-Fi should be protected and ‘ready to go’.

The survey suggests that of 3,359 venues worldwide 2,048 were running completely open networks and handed out passwords which meant the Wi-Fi could be used for criminal activity and would be untraceable back to the individual user. At APC when installing Wi-Fi for public use the user has to connect to the Wi-Fi and then fill out an online form to connect, therefore enabling the client to track back to each individual user through their login credentials. Not only does this provide the client with traceable data, but also data which it can use for its marketing purposes if the consumer doesn’t chose to opt out.  

So, if you’re planning on joining the Wi-Fi revolution or indeed already have, ensure your network is protected with the relevant filters and ensure you can track back to an individual user.

How well is your town connected?

With cities across the country now offering free Wi-Fi within their town centres, has the Wi-Fi revolution reached your local town? With Birmingham Council announcing last week that it is the latest city to jump on board the Wi-Fi wave, following on from London and York, are local towns ensuring they are as up to speed as the big cities?

Pilot schemes like the Portas bid have breathed new life into smaller struggling towns with multiple unoccupied stores. Using display banners within empty stores to encourage new ownership and ensuring the current stores have inviting store displays and the marketing support they need to survive.

But is Wi-Fi really that big a pull? Absolutely, not only does offering free Wi-Fi allow customers to use their mobile devices, tablet or laptop around the town but, it also encourages publicity of the town itself. With people mentioning the town across social networks, tweeting about the deals that they have got whilst in town that day or a local event or even a new store. The free publicity alone can easily pay for the initial outlay of installing a Wi-Fi hot spot.

And local businesses can also use the network to advertise their latest deals, sales and promotions. Offering a code only available if you’re connected to the local town network not only ensures that stores can track where the promotion has come from but will also, again, encourage local footfall in order to gain from the offer.

The free Wi-Fi can also help smaller coffee shops that may not be able to offer the service independently but need to compete with chains such as Starbucks and Costa. The same goes for smaller boutique stores who don’t get the marketing boost that larger chains do.

But it’s not just stores, which can benefit. By introducing free Wi-Fi at local children’s skate parks, youths are encouraged to utilise the towns facilities whilst parents can rest assured their children can always be contacted via their mobile device. Homework can be completed in the local café as a treat while the parent enjoys a cup of coffee and can save on expensive home broadband tariffs.

If your local town is not connected, ask them why not and encourage them to connect to drive traffic back to our local towns and businesses.

St Jude's Storm, did your internet survive

The usual routine for most mornings I am sure, the alarm goes, normally the alarm on your phone, snooze is tapped for the extra 5 minutes in bed, phone beeps again. Okay, definitely time to get up, roll over to turn the lamp on, why has it not turned on? Power cut, thanks to the St Jude’s Storm. But, here’s the kicker, not only is there no power leaving your mobile dangerously low in battery but there is also… no internet connection as you have no Wi-Fi at home due to the power outage and not even a mobile signal due to the local mobile mast being off-line. 

Panic stations; there is no electricity to make coffee, some toast, to connect your laptop or mobile devices, no Internet and no phone service. So what do you do?

The usual daily routine of checking your emails, connecting to your bank or just even checking your social media updates before you have left for the office or in some cases, whilst you are still in bed, is rudely interrupted by the simple fact you are unable to connect to the Internet.  

We have only had the use of the commercial Internet services since 1995, but it is sensational, how big a part it now plays in our every day lives. We have, in the past, suffered with power cuts and have learnt to keep candles and torches near by for these kind of emergencies. However, the minute our mobiles die this instils a different kind of fear of not being able to communicate.

Popcorn Web Design offices 

Due to the power outage there was a distinct lack of storm related statuses on Facebook, this left the newsfeed free for several hours while the signals remain down across most of the county. In times of crisis when there is a need to be kept abreast of the minute-by-minute changing news and weather, we don’t wait patiently for the next edition of the newspaper; we connect and check Twitter and Facebook for the very latest updates, pictures and news. The moment our Internet goes down, so does our link to the outside world. Heaven forbid we actually need to call people to find out what’s going on rather than relying on email or social media networks.

3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi, however fast the technology is developing and changing there is one thing it cannot change and that is the good old British weather. Trees will still fall, cables will go down, we will lose power and our links to the outside world will stop functioning as will our laptops, desktop PCs, tablets and mobile phones.

High winds and the falling of trees damaged many overhead power lines and telephone cables; this meant that individuals and businesses were without Internet access for a prolonged periods of time, causing many business to grind to a halt.  The ability of not being able to communicate with other offices, suppliers or clients or even the simplest of tasks of updating ordering portals or receiving information alerts, caused lots of business to reduce their trading on Monday.  Many staff were stranded at home, unable to travel.  Those that did brave the storms arrived at the office, to find out there was no Internet or even power.  Therefore many businesses closed their doors and the staff set off to find a Wi-Fi service at a coffee shop or restaurant, just to check their emails and keep in touch with work colleagues, customers or family and friends. 

However APC has deployed many wireless high-speed data networks over the last few decades for its customers and during this time of Internet silence, APCs clients were able to continue working as normal, as they weren't reliant on the overhead telephone cables that the wind damaged during the storm.  Many businesses have backup solutions for power, such as diesel generators, but many hadn't factored in the issues that no Internet can bring. 

Would you stay in a hotel without Wi-Fi?

Would you stay in a hotel without Wi-Fi? Could you survive without connecting your phone, tablet or laptop? For some, a weekend break, a two-week holiday or even just a single night away, is time away from a busy office environment.  But for others, the office has to go with them and become a mobile operations centre. More commonly, small business owners cannot disappear for prolonged periods of time without being able to communicate with their office or clients, and therefore the need for Wi-Fi Internet access is a must.

So what would happen when you arrive at the hotel, only to find your Wi-Fi connection picks up nothing? We rely so heavily on being able to connect to the cloud wherever we are, be it at the office, a shopping centre, a train, a taxi or even a plane these days. But to find a business such as a hotel without Wi-Fi is extraordinary, and for many, Wi-Fi is an essential part of our basic need to be able to communicate.

Not only does it affect the consumer but also the hotel, many guests choose their hotel by the amenities the hotel has to offer. For example; swimming pool, gym, fitness centre and room service to name a few. But the percentage of people now choosing their hotel due to Wi-Fi and Internet access has become colossal.  Many guests will choose an alternative hotel even if the hotel has Wi-Fi, even if they charge for it. However, if you are paying for a hotel and the amenities are available to you, should the Wi-Fi not also be free? And not only free but high-speed and offer coverage in all the main areas of the hotel; rooms, restaurants, and even by the pool and bar areas? 

And how can you leave that great review without free Internet access? Yes, you can wait until you get home but aren't you more likely to do it when you actually have time whilst on holiday? How can you tweet or post about your stay and make all your friends and work colleagues jealous? Upload pictures to Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram of the great view? Who doesn't check Trip Advisor or social networks before they book their hotel for the real reviews of the place? Hotels can live and die by a review and rating, having Wi-Fi to enable customers to do this, should be essential.

Yes, we can connect using our mobile data plan but for anyone who has tried to check his or her Facebook account whilst abroad, only to come home to an extortionate mobile bill knows, Wi-Fi is the only way to go. By not offering a connection, you’re forcing your clientèle to leave your hotel in search of an alternative venue that supplies Wi-Fi connectivity. Why stay in the hotel bar or restaurant and order that coffee when you are unable to connect to the internet, when across the street the local coffee house will let you connect for free.

So the questions are, could you stay in a hotel without Wi-Fi or more importantly, why should you? Furthermore, how can a hotel survive without offering its clientèle this simple service, of free Wi-Fi access?

The invention of Li-Fi

You thought you’d heard it all when it came to Wi-Fi but now, they've invented The Li-Fi. A light bulb, which emits its own Wi-Fi signal. Researchers from the Fudan University in Shanghai have developed a prototype which they are naming the Li-Fi.

The micro-chipped LED bulb can be used to connect up to four wireless devices using light frequencies rather than radio waves. The microchip produces a signal at 150Mbs per second, which is believed to be considerably faster than the average Wi-Fi connection in China.

Obviously, you need to keep the light on to keep the connection in place but surely this is a small price to pay for faster Wi-Fi? While the product is still in the research stages, it is set to be unveiled at the International Industry Fair in Shanghai next month.

For all the latest news from APC Solutions follow us @apcsolutionsuk

The 17th October marked the annual East of England Business Awards which saw APC nominated in three categories – It’s Group Sales Director, David Bell for Business Person, Harry Woolmore, APC Engineer for Employee of the Year and APC for Service Excellence.



Harry Woolmore, who has been with the company a little over a year, scooped runner up in the Employee of the Year category. At just 20 years old, this is a huge achievement for Harry and all at APC. Lee Collis, APC’s Technical Project Manager won the award the previous year. 

This is David’s second year being nominated for Business Person and he narrowly missed out this year with Dee Clayton winning for the second year running. Can he bring it home in 2014?

All in all a great achievement for APC being nominated in three categories. We’ll be back next year.

Jetson style driving thanks to wireless

OFCOM has outlined plans or future use of the radio spectrum, which could include the use of wireless technology to manage the UK’s roads.

Currently, the use of cameras across the nation’s motorways manages the complex map of traffic and incidents. Live traffic updates can be found online, on your phone or through the radio. But, after this week’s latest OFCOM report that could all be set to change.

By installing monitors on vehicles wheels it would be possible to monitor and track a cars location, their speed and if they are stuck in traffic. This, in turn, could be transmitted back to the data centre to change the current speed on the roads therefore aiding in eliminating traffic jams.

It is predicted the installation of such devices could save upwards of £1 billion a year, which, we would hope, could go back into maintain the nation’s roads and fixing the never-ending pothole problem?

So, aside from the obvious big brother profiling of the system knowing where your vehicle is… this smarter way of driving could knock hours of your daily commute. Being forewarned of the traffic via a linked app on your phone along with a new route plan pinged to your sat nav, perfect.  Forget about traffic alerts and navigate me round this delay just as I’ve gone past the last junction, this is driving, Jetson style.

But OFCOM’s plans don’t end there. The use of smart pill pots which can monitor if a patient has taken their pills and automatically re-order their prescription? Patient heart rate monitors which deliver test results directly to your doctor? Routine check-up appointments purely for these checks could be eliminated therefore finally freeing up precious doctors appointments and giving you the chance of actually getting an appointment.

Even the energy companies are looking to get on board by managing user’s electricity use and the times of day the usage drops therefore enabling the power companies to perform on a supply and demand basis rather than one constant amount. This, not only saves the energy companies money which can, hopefully, be passed onto the consumer but also, the planet.

And while we’re talking about the planet, there’s also the possibility for farmers to utilise the technology by monitoring water levels within the soil, therefore knowing how much or how little to water and fertilise the crops; a blessing when dealing with organic crops when levels can’t be controlled by pesticides.

So, wireless isn’t just to connect you to the internet, its possibilities and capabilities within nearly every sector are endless. And more often than not, they are also far more economical than traditional monitoring methods saving man power, and associated energy costs.

So save the planet, save money – and go wireless!

APC Solutions finalists in three categories of the East of England Business Awards

APC Solutions is delighted to announce it is a finalist in three categories of the East of England Business Awards. Group Sales Director, David Bell, is short-listed for the second year running as Business Person of the Year. Wireless Communications Engineer, Harry Woolmore is short-listed for Employee of the Year and APC Solutions itself for Service Excellence. An outstanding achievement for the company and the team.

Harry is the youngest member of the APC team and has been with the company a little over a year; at just 20 years old to be nominated for Employee of the Year is a huge achievement.

David Bell is one of the founding partners and a Director of the company. David has previously won Business Man of the Year at the Essex Business Awards and was a finalists for last year’s East of England Awards. Will this be his year?

APC Solutions was established in 1996. Now, just 17 years later is has its head office in Kelvedon, Essex but also satellite offices in Cape Town, South Africa and Ohio, North America providing wireless solutions for companies across the world.

The awards take place on the 17^th October at Tewin Bury Farm in Hertford.

For all the latest news leading up to the awards follow us @apcsolutionsuk 

Wi-Fi now in Taxis?

Taxi operators have hit out at plans for a £50 administration fee for every cab fitted with Wi-Fi.

According to the Edinburgh News, Internet access in taxis across Edinburgh via Wi-Fi hotspots would be free to all passengers, with installation and service charges to be paid by sponsors under the move backed by city council licensing chiefs.

However, the local authority still intends to ask drivers to fill out an application to have the equipment fitted – and charge a £50 levy for each vehicle in the process.

The fee could net the council as much as almost £66,000 if all 1316 of the city’s licensed cabs and private hire vehicles commit to the plan.

That’s a nice earner for the council but for the smaller taxi firms, it could be the difference between offering the Wi-Fi or not. And who would miss out, the consumer.

If you’re in a taxi you’re a captive audience, you can’t go anywhere, the traffic dictates your journey time and until you reach your destination, you’re a sitting duck. But, if you can tap into the free Wi-Fi, you’re free to work, connect and even shop. Therefore utilising your journey time, effectively.

Yes, the user could use their own data but with nearly every store, train, bus and plane offering free Wi-Fi, why should or would you?

We are a connected nation, we work harder and longer than our European counterparts and we survive on the Internet. Yes, sitting in a taxi with no Wi-Fi for some is hugely appealing, that precious downtime, those few stolen moments of peace, maybe even banter or a chat with the driver. But, who really has the time? In the half hour journey that presentation could be completed and sent, the kids presents ordered and the weekly shop, done. But without the use of free Wi-Fi, your data quickly gets eaten up, can often dip in and out and as for the speed, you might as well wait until you’re back in the office for the page to eventually load.

And who will end up paying the fee for the box? Customers, the added bonus of the free Wi-Fi will ultimately up the fares making taxi travel even more expensive than it already is.

It might seem a minor thing, but when we are so used to being able to connect almost anywhere, too find a location where we can’t is surprising, frustrating and can even deter us from the coffee shop, store or vehicle.

Don’t stop the wireless revolution! 

Are you a 'flashpacker'?

An article in this week’s Telegraph states, “in 2013, according to a new survey, the average backpacker – or “flashpacker” – now carries more than £3,000 worth of kit, including hair straighteners and electric toothbrushes. They are more likely to “rough it” in a five-star hotel than a rickety tent, and tend to hop between destinations on a plane, rather than trek the full distance.”

Do you remember the time before we all left the house mobile pinned to our ear? Or sat on a train reading a book or newspaper rather than our kindle or tablet? You’ll have to think back the best part of twenty years!

According to the recent survey in the Telegraph, the average backpacker now carries £3,000 worth of ‘essentials’ including hair straighteners electric toothbrushes and technology. Their kit bag could be double the price of a round the world ticket!

But, not only do they take the kit with them on their travels around the globe, but they also log in to every Wi-Fi hot spot Tweeting their antics along the way. But whose Wi-Fi are they using?

Take your pick, find me a business that isn't offering free Wi-Fi and note the distinct lack of devices within the vicinity. Now nearly every coffee house, restaurant, store, hotel or high street allows you to log on and surf at will. Not only does this reduce astronomical overseas roaming charges, but it also makes communicating with loved ones at home instantaneous. There’s no waiting to ring once a week from a payphone you find, simply hook up to the local Wi-Fi and bang, ping an email with attached video or photo of where you are.  Or even make a Skype, FaceTime or Viber telephone/video call!

And it’s not just the big cities offering free Wi-Fi, smaller towns and far off locations even in the deepest parts of the African desert, still offer connectivity for travellers and locals alike. Festivals, sporting events, even flower shows also offer free access.

But what good does it do for the business providing the service? There’s the obvious social network promotion, tweeting ‘just popped into Starbucks to grab a coffee and use their Wi-Fi’ to ‘I'm in the middle of the desert, connected using my phone, here’s where I am (cue video link)’. There’s also the travellers and indeed locals view of why can’t I connect here? It’s now expected, no matter the country, that we will be able to use Wi-Fi, and more often than not, it will be free.

So when your son or daughter drops the bombshell that they’re off travelling for their gap year. Forget about buying them the Rough Guide or worrying they’ll keep in touch. Simply buy them a smartphone or tablet, if they don’t have one already that is, and a solar charger to keep the battery topped up and watch the updates come flooding in. 

Connectivity on the golf course? Fore for Wi-Fi!

According to V3 the PGA European Tour has confirmed plans to roll out high performance WiFi to all participating golf courses.  With the PGA tour visiting 52 countries and with many offering unreliable 3 or 4G networks, it was vital the PGA used wireless technology to allow for live streaming and a consistent network. 

At APC, we deploy networks across the globe from golf estates in South Africa to oil rigs in the middle of the Black Sea. In the UK, we've supplied temporary connectivity to construction sites including the Shard and connected multiple car dealerships across the country.

For most of our clients, speed of installation is key. If the client is working on a short term project the installation of a leased line connection can take several months, for APC’s wireless networks, we take the time frame down to days.

We live in information overload. Gone are the days of turning up at a tournament purely to watch the game? Now, we want to watch the game and re-stream the bits we missed while we went to get a drink. We want to upload our photos instantly whilst connecting to the local Wi-Fi and we don’t want to have to pay for the privilege.

Customers demand connectivity be that at the local store, coffee house, hotel or gig venue. The phase free Wi-Fi used to be a selling point, now, it’s expected. With celebrities taking to social networks to launch albums, show their latest photos and update their fans on their whereabouts, it’s expected that they Tweet a picture of them about to go down to the golf course or at the latest hot spot.

Installing a Wi-Fi network also allows the promoter extra revenue opening up the network to advertisers and companies within the local area. Need a hotel nearby? Here’s one with a discounted rate for those attending the golf. Something to eat, here’s the pre golf menu.  Gone are the days where we meander down the road in the hope to find a pub on the way, now we connect and find the nearest pub, download the offer voucher and book a table all from our phone or tablet, and then we tweet or Facebook to say we’re going there and how it was.

So can your business, event, golf course or coffee shop survive without Wi-Fi? Sure, but with it, it will succeed.

Are you part of the Wi-Fi workforce

For many freelancers or those owning their own consultancy or small business, utilising a coffee shops free Wi-Fi is far cheaper than renting an office space. And why not? If you work independently or with others but again, they work at their own premises or home, why do you need an office with expensive utility bills when you can camp out at the local coffee house and use the Wi-Fi for free and let’s face it, the coffee is better too!

For the larger chains like Starbucks and Costa, Wi-Fi is free and for most cases, unlimited, leaving the Wi-Fi workforce free to make camp for a few hours to deliver their latest project. Simply grab your coffee, find your table, open the laptop and deliver the clients proposal in the comfort of the air con and endless pastries and refills.

But, where does this leave the smaller independent coffee houses which are often more limited on space. They already need to foot the bill for the free Wi-Fi access but can also lose out on custom if all the tables are filled with the Wi-Fi workforce. Non Wi-Fi users can also feel uncomfortable coming in to sit and enjoy a coffee which their neighbours tap tap tap away on their keyboards.

But what’s the answer? Many coffee shops in San Francisco are now limiting their free Wi-Fi access to a few hours a day or only making it available through a different passcode each day which is only available if you make a purchase. Therefore ensuring that customers wishing to use the Wi-Fi can, but not to the disadvantage of other customers. Others are keeping some of their tables laptop or tablet free zones allowing those that want to grab a quick lunch more chance of getting a table.

There is also a Wi-Fi etiquette, the ratio to which you purchase coffee or snacks to the time you spend at the establishment. For many, this varies on the coffee shop. If it’s a larger branded establishment then the ratio is less compared to a smaller independent which needs and values its customer.

Some coffee houses have even become Wi-Fi free zones ensuring that customers can reside in a technology free area with nothing more than the grind of the coffee beans or background music to break their conscious. Which for some, is appealing, but those which are meeting in the middle, accommodating both the Wi-Fi users and those that just want their cup of coffee or lunch are really on to the winning combination. One coffee house owner even saw a jump in profits between 15-20% purely by ensuring they accommodated both types of consumers.

So, consider your solution carefully. Monitor its use. Recognise your cliental and ensure your product offering is as enticing as your Wi-Fi strength.

City of York, the best connected city?

This week The City of York revealed it wants to be the ‘Best connected City in the UK by the end of 2015’. Quite a goal for a city which doesn't yet have 4G connectivity. However, it has been awarded £2.7 million in funding as part of the Super Connected Cities Programme which will allow it to install large television screen in city areas, Wi-Fi and provide digital education.

Working with equipment supplied by Ruckus Wireless, York hopes to bring in a scalable network that will reach the outskirts of the city as well as inner city areas. Even providing free Wi-Fi to skate parks, open air theatres and shopping areas.

The council’s hope is to enable residents and visitors to the city access to all the relevant information services allowing them to have the ultimate ‘visit’ to the city. Which makes sense, if you’re travelling somewhere new and you need to know where to go for dinner, see if there’s an offer on at the local theatre or even too check train times, why should you have to use your own data bundle? Surely this information should be made available to you, for free?

And with the information being made available wirelessly, this will also afford the council the luxury of reducing its printed material. Who needs a printed map of the city when you can connect for free and follow your phones sat nav? The end of printed voucher codes for restaurants, just connect and show your code?

Is there a downside? We can’t see one. Shops will gain footfall as people are more likely to stay longer browsing your store if they can connect for free. Restaurants and coffee shops will see punters staying for longer drinking their coffee and ordering another. And teens will always be happy to download the latest track to play while using the local skate park.

                                                                                     

With cities growing at an outstanding rate and house prices still at a high despite the global recession it’s also only right the council are pushing the Wi-Fi further afield than just the town centre locations. Not only does this allow you to connect without being in the centre of town, but it also allows those premises on the outskirts to advertise their wares and encourage footfall. Out of town shopping centres usually frequented by the masses on Sundays for DIY missions become a more social area with the use of free Wi-Fi, soon a coffee shop pops up and the DIY shop becomes far more pleasurable than just a trip for a pot of paint.

Many often comment the internet has made us less social with people communicating via email, text or social networking sites rather than face to face. Which in one aspect is certainly true but, by bringing Wi-Fi to outside space, and making it free, it allows users to interact and connect socially.           

                 

With Wi-Fi being rolled out across town centres and cities up and down the country, we are soon to become a truly connected nation. And don’t be fooled that this will only appeal to the youth market frantically tapping into their phones. The 60 plus surfer will also be able to connect using their phone or laptop. Why stay in and surf online when you can pop into town and connect wirelessly for free and grab a sandwich and meet your neighbour at the same time.

With money comparison sites dominating the internet and social networking sites the most frequently visited of all, councils need to ensure they take their piece of the Wi-Fi pie and offer their residents an exceptional level of coverage. The benefits far outweigh the initial cost and with the government keen for us all to be connected may even be free. 

News just announced, Google will be providing up to 10 times faster Wi-Fi into US Starbucks chains. Starbucks has commented that its free Wi-Fi is one of the predominate reasons customers stay longer in its coffee houses and why it has become the brand of choice for Americans looking to do more than just grab a cup of coffee and go.

Google will also be looking to develop the Starbucks’ Digital Network, the first page consumers will see when they are given the opportunity to connect to the free wireless network. What an opportunity! You cannot escape this page; want to use the Wi-Fi? Then you have to type in your details; agree to the terms, conditions, and type in the password.

So how could this affect your business? I have recently upgraded my phone, now, whenever I walk into a coffee house, store or building that offers a Wi-Fi connection up pops the screen to log in and connect.

Then, I have the standard fill in your details screen. Now here’s the real opportunity to target your users. You can gather their email address to be used for future campaigns, tick. Target them with the latest in store offer, log on to our Wi-Fi, oh and here’s an extra 10% off today or fill in this survey and get a free filter coffee top up? The possibilities, as they say, are endless.

But it’s the follow through that really matters. It’s using this data to further improve your business. So last week your user connected to your Wi-Fi while having their MOT. But did you follow up with an email 11 months later reminding them to come back to you? This is the real crux of the matter. Providing free Wi-Fi costs a company money, therefore it has to offer something back to the business.

If you’re a coffee house this is obvious, it means people stay longer drinking their coffee and probably order another or a sandwich. But, are you likely to stay longer while having your car fixed? Probably not, but you may pick up some oil if an offer pops up, or book in for an air con re-charge as part of your service? It’s the added extras that bring people back to your business.

Having time off work to get your car serviced or MOT’d isn’t always possible, but saying you need to pop out, but you will log and do some work whilst having your car serviced makes it that little bit easier.

And we all have a coffee or lunch break, but how many of us really take it? Somehow, the act of checking your emails while you actually finish a sandwich rather than picking at it at your desk makes it that little bit easier to stomach. There are also countless studies to say how leaving the office even for half an hour can boost your productivity considerably.

So next time you pop out for a coffee, don’t feel guilty, just tell your boss Starbucks Wi-Fi is faster than the office and suggest they call APC Solutions to deliver a faster network? 

Can your business be without a Wireless LAN (WLAN) network?

A recent survey by Information Weekly said that of the 419 respondents 89% use 802.11n technologies as an access method for end users which is up from 76% in September 2010. A huge increase to the latest equipment. Nearly a quarter of the respondents also reported that traffic had exploded over the last year.

With smart, iphone and android devices being launched each week, the evolution to 4G well under way and the huge boost tablets have given to the wireless market, can companies afford not to be using the latest wireless equipment? Over 45% of those surveyed were planning to deploy the latest 802.11ac as soon as it was available.

But, do companies need to keep abreast of the latest wireless LAN developments? Or can they settle for their current technology? This, of course, depends on the extent of their wireless network. If their office phones and computers are supported by traditional connections and their wireless access is only acting as a support for mobile devices and laptops then there is an argument to say, stay put for a while, keep at the “n” standard and maintain a steady, if slightly slower connection.

However, if the office is a hive of hot desk activity, cloud based storage and tablet happy then can you afford not to upgrade? No. The initial cost of upgrading the equipment can be recouped in a short period of time, in some cases less than 6 months from initial installation, with the network already in place the upgrade can take as little as a day.

But can the financial outlay be justified? Yes, if you need your office space, distribution centre or even airport to supply a high speed network with almost zero downtime or drop in speed the cost takes care of itself. With tablets and smart phone technology changing quickly, renewal contracts shortening and refresh packages now commonplace, the usual 24 month contract is being replaced by 6, 12 or even monthly renewal periods.

And how do clients react to your network? From the survey 34% have 25% more client traffic sent or received over the wireless network. How will it affect business when the client logs on to your network, only to find the system can’t cope with the 5MB file they’re trying to upload to the office through your internal Wi-Fi access? People don’t expect to have to wait for file uploads or hook their laptop up to the internal cabled network, they expect to key in a code and bang, away the file, email or document goes with no hassle or interruption.

So make the necessary upgrades when available, after all, can you really afford not to? 37% of respondents see wireless networks replacing wired infrastructure within just five years that gives the likes of Apple, Samsung and other leading manufactures enough time to release even further developments!  

Free Wi-Fi at airports, browsing just got easier.

Soon the Premier Airport Network will open across 20 US airports offering its users free, yes, I said free Wi-Fi. Thanks to a deal with MediaShift, browsers will now be able to log on and utilise the free Wi-Fi. The only catch? During the consumers browsing time various paid adverts will appear.

Genius? Absolutely. What a better way to capture your target audience than when they’re cashing in on the free Wi-Fi scrolling through the social networking sites telling everyone where they’re going? Or the business men and women finishing off that last minute document using their current smart phone, cue pop up, oh look, there’s a new version and I can buy it on sale at the shop I’m about to walk in to? Again, genius.

Obviously, to the consumer the constantly stream of advertising can feel like an invasion of their privacy. But with the average traveller’s airport browsing session already at 57 minutes, the introduction of free Wi-Fi can only increase this time further.

“MediaShift provides the technology at no cost to the airports," Brendon Kensel, MediaShift's president, told Mashable. "For the first time, airports can participate in ad revenues that have traditionally eluded last mile online access providers. Airports receive incremental revenue with no start-up costs, investment or capital expenditure for airports.”

So what does this mean for companies around the selected airports? The potential to offer specific discounts, rates or offers. To promote the latest hotel or restaurant opening. Give clips of the shows, concerts and exhibitions in the city? And all while the consumer is relaxing waiting to board their flight.

For the consumer, the reduction in their data costs could mean the option to utilise the latest offer, consider the new technology the ad is talking about and even make a purchase.

They also have the capability to work at the airport. Those dead hours, waiting to board and clocking up the data charges can now be used to complete work, prepare for the next meeting and even conduct the actual meeting.

The Wi-Fi revolution is here, at the airport, on the plane itself, have airports become the new mobile office?

Wi-Fi in the air

Commuting is part and parcel of working life be this a short stroll to work for a very lucky few to the endless train or car journey to the office. For some, it may even involve hoping on a plane. One thing is for sure though, the time to and from work can be utilised to reduce the hours you have to spend in the office thanks to the addition of Wi-Fi hot spots.

For those that have to drive sadly there’s not much chance of finishing that last minute presentation but for those on public transport, the addition of Wi-Fi hot spots and connectivity has opened the gates for extra working hours.

Got to travel for business, still need to catch up on emails or send the presentation over before you land? No problem. Simply check if your flight has a Wi-Fi symbol next to it.... and you thought ordering your food choice was as complicated as it got?

You can even buy a wireless card courtesy of Go Go in-flight internet allowing you to surf till your heart’s content for a mere few dollars when pre purchased for US flights. 

Over 38% off domestic flights in the US now have Wi-Fi access which has grown from 5% to 7% per year. There is also set to be an even larger rate of increase as more company’s roll out the satellite based technology.

Now even 120 London underground tube stations also have access to the internet provided either through monthly contract with selected ISPs or a pre paid daily, weekly or monthly subscription.

But, is it worth it? Surely, when we have free internet access at work already or can pop to Starbucks or McDonalds at lunch and log on for free, are the commuter services just cashing in on our need for constant data? In one sense, yes, it does bring in extra revenue to the flight and rail services but the benefit to the customer can out way the cost.

With house prices still high in city locations despite the economic downturn, we have had to up sticks and join the waft of commuters filing onto the trains in the morning. With train journeys taking upwards of an hour, that extra time to finish documents, arrange meetings and clear down your inbox can be hugely beneficial.

Time travelling internationally used to eat into the working day, flights would be booked early to ensure the working day would not be affected but now, with on-board Wi-Fi your office can be tens of thousands of feet high in the sky and no one need be any wiser to your location.

Obviously, the time spent travelling does not have to be used for work. Catching up on the latest Apprentice episode, the news or instagram video can all be done while waiting for the train. And with many companies banning the use of social networking sites during working hours, the need to find out whose done what can be intense.

With smart phone and tablets already offering us connection via our data plans we can of course  just use our phones but there’s something alluring about turning the Wi-Fi on, the extra speed, potential cost saving when using free Wi-Fi and the capacity to send and receive higher bandwidths can be just too tempting.

So embrace the Wi-Fi revolution, log on where you can, buy the monthly cards to save you cash and of course, ensure your business has free Wi-Fi to bring in the punters. 

APC Solutions finalists for the 2013 Comms Business Awards - what a night it was

What a night the 20^th June was. APC attended, and was nominated for two categories of the Comms Business Awards which took place at The Lancaster Hotel in London’s Hyde Park.

The glittering event was hosted by Debra Stevenson and featured 19 categories. The national awards are a testament to the communication industry covering resellers, distributors, service providers, product and employee categories.

Independently judged, The Comms Business Awards are designed to genuinely recognise excellence in the Channel. Acknowledging the successes of the reseller community, the vendors, distributors and service providers as well as those successful individuals who truly set the standard, these Awards are the industry's most sought after accolade.

APC Solutions was finalists for the SMB Convergence Solutions category and its Director, David Bell was shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. The Comms awards are national and both APC and David were up against major players within the Comms industry. 

Reaching the finals of such prestigious and national awards is a huge testament to the APC team. David Bell comments: “When the nominations came out we were both shocked and proud to see just who we were up against. From our humble beginnings, APC is now competing with major national companies, many of whom have been around for many more years than APC.  All of our outstanding team are to thank for our nominations, I even credit the team for my own nomination as without them, I wouldn't have achieved what I have.

“Sadly, this year both APC and I were pipped to the post but we will be back next year. To our clients, suppliers and team thank you for your support in getting us this far and here’s to a big push for next year?”

The winners were:

1. Distributor of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Trust Distribution FINALISTS: - Capstan Communications Micro-P Nimans ScanSource Europe
2. Internet Service Provider of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Virtual1 FINALISTS: - Entanet Gamma Griffin Zen Internet
3. Network Operator of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Gamma FINALISTS: - BT Kcom O2 Virgin Media Business
Solutions Categories	Award Sponsors
4. SMB Convergence Solution
WINNER: - alwaysON Ltd FINALISTS: - APC Solutions Green Fields Technology M12 Solutions Switch Communications
5. Mid-Market Convergence Solution
WINNER: - Britannic Technologies FINALISTS: - Damovo UK Excell Group Foehn Gamma Business Communications
6. Enterprise Convergence Solution
WINNER: -Excell Group FINALISTS: - Channel Telecom Europacom.net Response Data Communications
Product Categories	Award Sponsors
7. Most Innovative Channel Product (Hardware)
WINNER: - Sennheiser UK FINALISTS: - Grandstream Neworks Inc Jabra Plantronics Talari Networks
8. Most Innovative Channel Product (On Premise Software Application)
WINNER: - Oak FINALISTS: - Kcom SpliceCom Limited Tollring Union Street Technologies
9. Most Innovative Channel Product (Professional Services)
WINNER: - Cirrus FINALISTS: - Atrium Telecom Channel Intellect IP-Netix Virtual1
10 . Most Innovative Channel Product (Cloud Based Solution Deployed)
WINNER: - Outsourcery FINALISTS: - Akixi ChannelCloud Cirrus PRD Technologies
11 . Channel Product of the Year - Overall
WINNER: - Outsourcery
People Categories	Award Sponsors
12. Channel Sales Person of Year
WINNER: - racie Wilkes of Frontier Voice & Data FINALISTS: - Adam Cathcart of Outsourcery Steve Harrington of tIPicall
13. Channel Entrepreneur of the Year
WINNER: - Tom O'Hagan of Virtual1 FINALISTS: - David Bell of APC Solutions Mark Gordon of Evolve Telecom Tony Cook of Union Street Technologies
14. Emerging Channel Company of the Year
WINNER: - tIPicall FINALISTS: - Cirrus Creation Application
Reseller Categories	Award Sponsors
15. Wholesale Service Provider
WINNER: - Virtual1 FINALISTS: - Channel Telecom Entanet Frontier Voice & Data Nine Group
16. Reseller of the Year (Small)
WINNER: - M12 Solutions FINALISTS: - EOS Communications Fusion Media Networks GHM Communications Ltd NetDatatel
17. Reseller of the Year (Medium)
WINNER: - Communicate Better FINALISTS: - 360 Solutions Incom Business Systems STL Communications TMS
18. Reseller of the Year (Large)
WINNER: - Excell Group FINALISTS: - Britannic Technologies Damovo UK Focus Group HighNet Telecoms
19. Overall Reseller of the Year
WINNER: - Excell Group