Hotel Industry Gets First Look at New High-Speed Internet Access Solution
PR Newswire - January 22, 1998 09:04
MSFT %CPR %MLM V%PRN P%PRN
ATCOM/INFO and Microsoft Team Up to Deliver IPORT
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp.
(Nasdaq: MSFT), ATCOM/INFO and CGX Communications Inc. today unveiled plans to
collaborate on commercial trials of a high-speed Internet access service for
hotels. At the 13th annual Hotel Industry Investment Conference, the companies
previewed ATCOM/INFO's IPORT(TM) product, which lets business travelers easily
access the Internet, e-mail and private networks from their guest rooms. The
service allows users to connect their laptop computers to high-speed Internet
connections at speeds up to 50 times faster than traditional data ports and
dial-up modems.
With technology developed by Microsoft(R) Consulting Services and
ATCOM/INFO, and implemented by selected system integrators, IPORT will enable
hotels to compete effectively for business customers by providing a complete
range of sophisticated high-speed remote access options. CAIS Internet, a
division of CGX Communications, will be a major co-sponsor of the trials and
the primary integrator for trial hotels intending to use existing telephone
wiring for the service, using its OverVoice technology.
"Hotels are very interested in providing Internet solutions for their
guests. However, today's data ports are grossly insufficient -- slow, costly
and unreliable," said Stan Julien, hospitality industry marketing manager at
Microsoft. "This new service will solve these problems and bring high-speed,
easy-to-use remote access to today's 'road warrior.'"
The commercial trials are scheduled to begin in February at approximately
15 hotels, with the system installed in roughly 3,000 guest rooms. Once the
trials are completed, this service is expected to roll out to hotels,
airports, convention centers and other public facilities. ATCOM/INFO, a San
Diego-based software company with a background in public Internet access
kiosks, plans to license the product to value-added system integrators in the
hospitality industry.
"IPORT makes the promise of a universal Internet dial tone a reality,"
said Peter Van Horne, president and chief technical officer at ATCOM/INFO.
"This is a solid solution with significant business benefits for hotels and
business travelers, and we are very excited to begin market trials of this
technology."
Value-Added System Integrators Sign On
CAIS Internet will be the value-added system integrator for a significant
portion of the trial sites, using its OverVoice technology. OverVoice is a
low-cost infrastructure solution that utilizes existing telephone wiring to
provide phone service and split-second, around-the-clock Internet access
simultaneously. In addition, OverVoice technology is rapidly deployable and
causes minimal disruption of the routine business of hotels.
"Rewiring and infrastructure costs will always be a headache -- both
expensive and disruptive to a hotel's operations," Julien said. "CAIS'
OverVoice technology eliminates these problems and provides us with an
elegant, effective and affordable solution. In fact, OverVoice has allowed us
to do twice as many trial properties with our existing budget."
San Jose-based Fourth Communications Network Inc. (4th Network) has signed
up to be one of the first value-added integrators to service additional trial
sites. 4th Network is a leading provider of hotel in-room technology,
equipment and services, and intends to add the IPORT service to selected sites
in its existing client base.
More details concerning the IPORT solution are scheduled to be released
next month when the commercial trial projects are expected to begin. For more
information about Microsoft hospitality solutions, visit
microsoft.com.
ATCOM/INFO is the nation's leading provider of public communications and
interactive information kiosks for the 21st century. ATCOM/INFO Cyberbooths
are targeted for high-traffic facilities throughout the United States and the
world, including airports, hotels, convention centers and other public places.
For more information on ATCOM/INFO, call 619-699-4000, or visit the company's
Web site at atcominfo.com.
CAIS Internet, acquired by CGX Communications in May 1996, is a first-tier
Internet service provider with thousands of business, government and
residential customers and provides underlying Internet access to more than
50 ISPs in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. CGX,
with 1997 revenues in excess of $29 million, is a leading provider of advanced
communications services that include patented, high speed, data-over-voice
services, long distance services, operator services, and first-tier Internet
services. For more information on CAIS Internet, visit
overvoice.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for
personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services
for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it
easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of
personal computing every day.
NOTE: Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of
Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. IPORT is a
registered trademark of ATCOM Inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information
on Microsoft, check out the Microsoft Web page at
microsoft.com on Microsoft's corporate information
pages./
/CONTACT: press only, Cheryl Cink, 503-226-5635, or
cherylc@insync-pr.com, or Greg Sorber, 503-226-8236, or gregs@insync-pr.com,
both of Insync Communications, for Microsoft/
/Web site: microsoft.com
(MSFT) |
