National Express has begun a trial of wireless access
systems on its coaches travelling between London and
Cambridge.
The systems will let passengers access broadband internet via
their Wi-Fi enabled laptops, PDAs and other handheld devices. Each
coach in the trial will carry Telabria's mSystem Mobilap-3G, a
multi-radio system that combines an 802.11b/g access point with 3G
data network access.
Passengers on vehicles equipped with the Mobilap-3G can check
e-mail and surf the web over Wi-Fi at speeds up to 300kbps wherever
there is 3G network coverage.
More than 90% of all new notebooks have integrated wireless
support, and it is estimated that 3G data coverage between the
leading network operators is available to more than 60% of the UK
population, with GPRS data coverage extending to over 95%.
The National Express trial provides internet access to
passengers for free, but the mSystem Mobilap-3G offers integrated
support for user authentication and billing, enabling operators to
charge for internet access.
