
Launches home and hotspot all-in-one deal – it was obvious really...
By Tony Hallett
Published: 23 October 2003 15:08 GMT
BT has taken the logical step of combining broadband, wireless home networking and public Wi-Fi access via its BT Openzone operations.
The package will be called BT Broadband Traveller and, as a simple addition to existing bills, will be aimed at consumers, home workers and SMEs.
With strong sales of 802.11b-enabled client devices - mainly laptops and some PDAs - as well as the proliferation of public hotspots, a combination package has been on the cards.
BT's public hotspot roll out goal is 4,000 locations by June next year and roaming deals with various operators and locations means potential access points - offering truly broadband speeds - could be much higher.
A BT spokesman said the service is aimed "at anyone who needs total access at home and also when out and about".
Wireless access when away from one's main broadband connection will be limited but pricing resembles that ubiquitous cellular networks.
The pricing breaks down as £27 per month for a broadband ADSL connection from BT, £129.99 or more to set up home wireless networking, then 23.5p per minute for time spent using a BT Openzone hotspot.
Unlike with some tariff structures for data over mobile phones, the decision was made not to charge on the basis of traffic volume.
Yesterday BT cut the cost of using its Openzone network and for heavy public users a separate Openzone account is likely to work out cheaper than Traveller's pay-as-you-go. To give users an extra incentive, the first three months of the subscription are free.
The great BT WIFI rip off
23.5p a minute for us...
Andrew Le May
23.5 per minute for access... they must be joking!...
Robin Back
Well done BT! I think it's an excellent offering -...
Patrick Bossert
Another "build it and they wil come" BT offering.....
Charles Turton
Why spoil a great idea with that 'price per minute...
Nick Brown
Good understanding of BGP routing for Private VPN and Public ISP • Through knowledge of MPLS layer 2/3 VPN • TCP/IP an interworking ...
I need 3 engineers to roll out laptops for a rolling 8 week contract London Based Duties: - Receiving the laptop with the basic build. Adding any ...
The CTO is in charge of the network from design to build and maintenance. Provide 2nd / 3rd Line Support (to Operations / NOC) and Technical Sales ...
Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.
Stories from the web...
Copyright © 2008 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved. Top of page
Natasha Lomas Exclusive: Jimmy Wales on what's next for Wikipedia Why Wikipedia needs geeks and why a life unplugged is unthinkable
Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: United breaks guitars? Customer service has changed forever