You are here: silicon.com > Networks > Mobile & Wireless

Mobile & Wireless

Wi-fi school buses let parents keep an eye on kids

No more timetables?

Tags: gps, bus, wi-fi

By Natasha Lomas

Published: 13 January 2009 14:43 GMT

Wi-fi-enabled school buses are letting parents keep an eye on their kids' whereabouts as they make their way to school.

The Green Bus company, which ferries more than 1,400 children to and from lessons each day in and around Birmingham, has deployed wi-fi internet access on 23 routes.

Bus pass holders get free web access at download speeds of up to around 2Mbps - which the company says has proved very popular with students since launching late last year.

Wireless from A-Z

Click here for all there is on wireless, from email to WiMax.

A quarter of kids have used the wi-fi service more than five times, and more than half of users have spent more than 20 minutes online on the buses, according to The Green Bus.

But the wi-fi service offers something for parents too. The ruggedised wi-fi access point on each bus - Icomera's Moovbox M Series mobile broadband gateway - incorporates GPS to enable real-time tracking of the vehicles.

The Green Bus MD Ian Mack said parents and school staff can securely log into the company's website to follow the progress of a bus during its journey using a Google Maps display.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Read and write about internet access at the airports of the world at atlarge.com.

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: How the telcos could save themselves Doomed network operators could thrive with a bit of innovation

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Facebook saves teen from prison Another unexpected impact of social networking


  • Jobs
Software Architect

Software Architect This wireless comms semiconductor/silicon company is looking for a Software Architect, to assist systems architects on various ...

WLAN/Wi-Fi Account Manager (Major carrier) - London, 120K OTE

This is a high-profile, business-critical role within my client and as such will require an experienced Account Manager/Sales Manager who is able to ...

Software Engineer - Embedded, Wireless, C; Cambridge, to 39k

Experience of wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, UWB or Wi-Fi and competency using laboratory and tracing equipment will be an ...

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.





Quick Sitemap Links: