By Diana J. Choyce
Oct 18 - 24, 1999
You've lugged that 10 pound
laptop through airports, airplanes, xray machines, and taxi's, only to find that you have
to charge the battery before you can even use it. You left the AC adapter...somewhere! Now
you're all charged up and ready to go and find that you've forgotten your Jaz drive at
home, along with all the files you need for your meetings. Sound familiar? Your dream
would be the use of a full desktop computer with high speed internet access and the
capacity to hook into your company network. That dream has finally begun its road to
fruition! The Solar Communications Group Inc. and Tut Systems companies are about to
change our lives and the way we do business on the road. And if we can extend this service
to all those places where we hate to sit and wait, wasting precious time, our productivity
would go off the scales. But then again, just closing the computer and having a nice
conversation with another human would be a good thing too.
Both of these companies have introduced their co-dependent systems into
the marketplace, and are already deploying them at many hotel chains. Solar Communications
hails from New Jersey and Tut Systems is based in California. PCRoomLink from Solar
provides business travelers with a variety of on-line convenience services, including
access to their corporate networks. The PCRoomLink system, which is installed in qualified
hotels free of charge, includes in-room PCs, with web-based e-mail, high-speed Internet
access and popular software applications.The Expresso MDU system from Tut is designed to
sit in the wiring closet of hotels and other multi tenant properties, such as apartments
and commercial buildings, to deliver secure, high-speed Internet access to individual
units within the building at speeds 20 times faster than a dial-up modem. It uses existing
telephone wires of a building without disrupting voice services allowing hotels to
maximize telecommunications revenue by delivering voice and data on a single telephone
line.
It is hoped that the PCRoomLink system service will entice consumers to
use these hotels and to also bring them back as repeat customers. Since travelers will
have the choice of using the room computer or using their own laptops, they can have the
best of both worlds. And the expected internet access speed of up to 1.544 megabits per
second is a definite added advantage. The system will also generate other revenue besides
the normal room rental rate. Hotels can have the interface customized and garner
advertising space profits as well. And the consumer can use the interface to order from
the local Pizza Hut, make airline reservations, rent cars, and even bring up maps of the
local area. It looks to be one of those win-win propositions.
"We have contracted with several well-known industry giants to
provide this in-room service," stated Mr. Rossi. "Contracts are in place with
AT&T, Compaq and others. Alliances with these companies provide maximum reliability of
our service and give the hotel owner a real sense of security. We are confident this
technology will be embraced by both the hotels and their guests." The company plans
to provide links from its web site at www.pcroomlink.com to the hotel for immediate
on-line reservations at no charge. It will also deploy, maintain, service, and monitor the
systems which will eliminate a large capital investment by its hotel partners. Their most
well known partners to date are with Trump International Hotel & Tower based in New
York City and the Holiday Inn chain.
It will cost an in-room internet system company as much as $750,000US
to outfit a hotel. The cost to the traveler will run about $20.00US per night. Hotels need
to be careful in picking a supplier as the contracts can last from 5 to 7 years. This long
term contract is needed to provide enough time for realizing profits for both partners.
Companies like Solar Communications need to convince a hotel of their commitment and
stability. Otherwise the hotel could end up with a long term contract with a company who
no longer supports them and leaves them with much outdated systems. Given that zero
investment will be required from the hotel. it could mean big profits down the road if
they choose their partners carefully. Alliances must also be chosen carefully to provide
consumers with a reliable, secure, and worthwhile service.
Several companies have jumped into the in-room internet fray with more
arriving every day. They offer many varieties of the service from simple internet access
to full desktop components. Included in this group are LodgeNet from Sioux Falls, S.D. and
Minneapolis-based Integrated Network Technologies (INTxx), which operates the Cyberoom
hotel internet service. As more and more companies jump on this technology, the
competition can only help the end user get the best service for his well earned money. And
as far as convenience, we would all love to leave our laptops at home as often as
possible. It will give us more overhead space in the airplane for all those trinkets we
have to bring home for the family!
