The Workspot : a first step before the general deployment of WiFi hotspots in Europe, explains Ann-Louise Palm, CEO of Appear Networks
A new business model justifies the large-scale deployment of WLAN hotspots in Europe.
“Within a Workspot, the increase in productivity is immediate as personnel have up-to-date information readily available, which in itself justifies the investment."
Ann-Louise Palm, CEO
London, United Kingdom, 7 January 2003 - Ann-Louise Palm, CEO of Appear Networks, European leader in the development of software platforms for local wireless networks, estimates that in 2003 the UK will see acceleration in the implementation of solutions destined to public hotspots, with the growing influence of the “Workspot” model.
“A public hotspot (store, airport, hotel, train station, Underground station, amusement park…) needs to provide particular services to its visitors. It is certainly attractive to be able to propose local information to visitors’ mobile devices via a WLAN (wireless local area network)” explains Ann-Louise Palm, before continuing, “All of the pieces of this puzzle - mobile equipment, wireless network, appropriate software, content, it’s all available today. Unfortunately, the short-term justification of such an investment remains to be defined, given that economic models are still evolving and that the number of WLAN-enabled mobile devices remains relatively limited among the general public.”
Nevertheless, innovative deployments have already been implemented, where organisers have chosen to lend the necessary mobile devices (PDAs) to the public, as in the case of Appear Networks’ participation with Hewlett Packard and Intel at the Machine Tools & Robotics Congress in Stockholm in October 2002.
New to the WLAN world is the business model known as the “Workspot”. A Workspot is a hotspot where not only visitors and passengers circulate, but also semi-mobile workers, employees who must carry out specific tasks. This necessitates specific information, which must be localised, updated and easily accessible in environments often badly adapted to receiving data by more classic means. In this case, mobile equipment becomes a vital work tool for employees. The desired objectives are precise and quantifiable and it is possible to define a real return on investment.
“Within a Workspot, the increase in productivity is immediate as personnel have up-to-date information readily available, which in itself justifies the investment. The Workspot Manager soon discovers many other advantages linked to the deployment of these technologies, such as the positive impact on workers´ morale and the improvement in the quality of customer service. The investments made in these locations today will impact visitors and passengers tomorrow, as the initial installation costs have already been made,” continues Ann-Louise Palm.
“The Workspot therefore justifies the many deployments of WLAN technology that we will see from the beginning of 2003 in the United Kingdom, particularly in the world of Transportation, a sector always at the forefront of new technologies” adds Ann-Louise before closing, “The Workspot is therefore the origin and not the consequence of the phenomena of WLAN hotspots. Just take the example of Charles de Gaulle airport: the first hotspot deployed there was a Workspot, used by the baggage handlers.”
Ann-Louise Palm, one of the founders of Appear Networks, is also a privileged observer of the evolution and the implementation of wireless technologies destined to European hotspots.
Appear Networks is positioned as one of the leading companies in this field, thanks to its own Click & Run™ technology, the company’s varied projects and partnerships with major players in the European transport sector but also due to its strong presence in the Nordic countries, where mobile solutions are far advanced.
About Appear Networks: www.appearnetworks.com
Appear Networks is a European leader in proximity-triggered application platforms for the task-specific mobile workforce.
Appear Provisioning Server is the first platform already in use, designed to deploy wireless applications on WLAN “hotspot” networks, such as airports, railway/subway stations or conference venues. Applications can be location-based workforce applications (for productivity gains and increased quality of service) as well as value-added guest services (for customer loyalty and revenue generation).
Click & Run™ is the most advanced technology for application provisioning and management in wireless networks: it enables any mobile device connected to a wireless IP network to discover, download and run location-specific applications in one single click.
Press Contacts:
Angela Hepburn
Open2Europe
a.hepburn@open2europe.com
+ 33 (0)1 55 02 14 51
Ann-Louise Palm, CEO
Appear Networks
ann-louise.palm@appearnetworks.com
+ 46 (0)8 545 91 370
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