My WIFI Rant – Again
I am not sure I have talked about this enough so I want to make sure we are clear…Wifi in conventions and trade shows is expensive!! I was talking to a friend this evening about not only the market of Internet connectivity in convention centers, but also in airports and other public places. Why does something so much needed cost so much to produce. Wait, I think I just answered my own question.
The mobile market is slowly going to change how convention centers and meeting locations charge for this service. With the invention of the iPhone, we are going to see a paradigm shift in the market. We will begin to see places begin to look at how they can control the airwaves and make it impossible for your average iPhone user not to get service in certain areas of buildings where Wifi is located where it is being charged for and many other crazy paranoid conspiracy theories I can come up with. Yes I am ranting now but I am trying to wrap my head around all of this as it relates the expenses of allowing an attendee to use a laptop device. How hard is it? Apparently, it is so hard it costs an arm and a leg to do!
Tags: Wifi, Conventions, Trade Shows, Conferences, Technology, iPhone
SmartSource Rentals has just started offering a new solution to avoid these high price fees that tradeshows and conventions charge for internet access. We now rent a mobile broadband package that will let you create your own wireless network without having to pay the local venue to use their network or internet access. Our mobile internet package lets you connect up to four computers, wireless or hardwired, using Verizon’s 3G network – which will work anywhere there is cell reception. This is an easy to use out of the box package with much lower rates and more flexibility than the local internet at most conventions and tradeshows. This is a very new offering for SmartSource Rentals and you can call for more details – 800.888.8686
My question to you then Travis is how does that work with the conventions centers that wont allow you through the door with your won equipment? Sure I could rent Wifi but once they get wind of the fact that you are providing access and circumventing their system, I’m sure that will go over real well? How do you deal with those issues?
I agree, I’m sure there will be checks at the door for those kind of things, if there aren’t already. This is where virtual trade shows will come in big, as they are already becoming increasingly popular. For example, EventMingle is an online social networking web application designed to enable participants to interact with each other prior to arriving to a tradeshow and other events. The application has become extremely popular in the trade show industry and has recently been incorporating Twitter into much of the trade show planning process to make it a lot simpler. I read a pretty good blog post about it if anyone wants to check it out: http://trade-show-promotion.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-twitter-and-eventmingle-can-help.html
Kye we also just did a post about EventScope one of the people that sponsor conventions.net Your idea about virtual trade shows has sparked a new thought I think I’ll post about here.