Wireless Ckeck-In

Marriott International, Inc. a hotel chain has announced that it is trialing a mobile wireless check in system for their custumers. The system is using Microsoft’s Windows Mobile®-powered devices on end-to-end Intel Architecture and is being tested in Redmond Washignton Town Centre.

Source Hospitality.net
In a collaborative effort with Intel® Solution Services and Microsoft®, Marriott is working toward implementing a mobile wireless check-in process that is convenient and easy for guests to use. During testing, guests with Microsoft Windows Mobile-powered Smartphones–running the PocketPC Platform–can simply download and install Marriott’s seamless mobility software from Arrive.Marriott.com. Using the Internet, they can then connect securely to the Redmond Marriott Town Center hotel’s property management system and check in to their room while in transit to the hotel. Guests will also be able to change room types, receive welcome information and reconfirm their room rates. When they arrive at the hotel, guests retrieve their room keys from a conveniently located automated key dispenser in the lobby.

Critical to the test is innovative software developed by Intel Solution Services to Marriott’s requirements that enables guests to check-in while in motion and eliminates the need to restart the check-in process, even if the wireless signal is lost in transit. Information entered by travelers will be automatically restored when the signal is re-established. A future benefit of this project will also enable guests to check in from their office PCs and laptops.

Upon successful completion of the test later this year, Marriott will evaluate requirements for production development and a rollout plan for mobile wireless check-in at its hotels.

Sprint Leads the way - 4G with WiMAX

Sprint has finally decided to go with WiMAX after months of testing different technologies and since the have joined forces with Nextel they have all this 2.5G infrastucture laying arourd. We'll see if Qualcomm can keep up the pace. Hopefully they can be competitive since Sprint is working with Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Intel Corp. to help develop the underlying network. Sprint is expecting to complete the infrastucture by 2008 with a budget of $1 -$4 billion