by Mark Jones

LinuxWorld Wi-Fi update

news
Aug 6, 20031 min

Ok, so now I feel like a crusader. After filing yesterday’s report, I decided to get a little more proactive today and filed a “customer report” asking LinuxWorld organizers (aka IDG, InfoWorld’s parent) to make sure the next show has an abundance of Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi report for Day 2:

Press conference rooms = none

Media working room = none, except Doc Searls most welcome rogue AirPort

Keynote hall = none

Show floor = sporadic, unofficial signals

Hallways = weak signal from T-mobile. And no, I’m not going to give them money to do my job.

Scott, I spoke with the show organizers and I was surprised that cost came up as an excuse for the Wi-Fi no-show. Aruba would not be the first to market free Wi-Fi. Cisco and Symbol are two companies that I recall have installed it free of charge at various industry events. If show organizers can remember to make sure power, PCs, and food are available to media, Wi-Fi is only an incremental expense.