New Business Wins For Wi-Fi Hotspots Specialists Airangel
Radisson SAS Hotels, Flybe and Eversheds all adopt unique 'branded gateway' concept that challenges existing wi-fi hotspot models
-/July 06, 2006 - Wi-Fi Technology News/-Airangel, the Warrington based wi-fi and digital content specialists, have just announced three new major account wins to bolster its already impressive portfolio of commercial clients using its unique online branded gateways. Radisson SAS Hotels, low cost airline Flybe and corporate lawyers Eversheds have all signed up to airangel's 'walled garden' wi-fi networks and content rich portals.
With airangel networks already live at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow, Flybe's Belfast lounge and Evershed's head office in London, the new deals will see airangel build and install a dozen new bespoke networks by the end of the year; two at major Radisson SAS hotels, six in Evershed's key regional offices and an additional four in busy Flybe airline lounges. These are all in addition to airangel's live networks currently installed in nine Malmaison hotels and seven in Malmaison's Hotel Du Vin subsidiary chain.
Far beyond just offering customers with wi-fi enabled devices access to the net via a standard wireless network, the airangel branded gateway offers genuine added value to the user, whilst also giving the host business the opportunity to get much closer to its clients and communicate to them in a highly targeted and strategic way. And, in terms of generating revenue, the airangel gateway also operates in a totally different way from the traditional pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model offered by operators such as BT OpenZone. Existing PAYG models can charge users up to £6 per hour to get basic access to the net, with the hotspot operator sharing income with the venue hosting the network. Logging on to existing wi-fi networks can also often involve lengthy and frustrating registration and payment processes.
In sharp contrast, a majority of airangel clients offer their customers free access to the web via a secure registration code distributed in the form of a branded voucher. However, rather than just offer standard internet access, airangel's wi-fi networks are configured to ensure that any user is automatically directed to a dedicated corporate 'home page' that acts as a gateway to the web. But the home page is more than just a passive 'skin' that sits over a web-browser - it is a fully interactive, content driven portal that fully engages the user with the host company's products, services and genuinely useful local information.
This allows the host company the opportunity to offer the user a wealth of information regarding their own business, and the option to deliver their customers pertinent third party content and services that are truly 'added value'. For example, users of the airangel network in Flybe's Belfast lounge are given instant access to all flight information, which is updated in real time. It also has a comprehensive database of local hotels, taxi companies and other useful services that an airline customer would truly appreciate. Due to the cost of maintaining such detailed content Flybe do charge users to access the network, but they are 25% cheaper than other hot-spot operators at the same airport.
Similarly, Evershed's airangel portal is designed to offer corporate clients not only information about its professional services but also highly tailored and useful content such as guides to local restaurants and shops, events and even directions to the nearest toilets adjacent to the specific part of the building they have logged-on in.
And, at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow, this added value approach has been extended to the point of the 'virtual host' with guests able to access information about the best pubs and restaurants nearby (based on the General Manager's own personal recommendations), tourist information and comprehensive details of hotel services that would not be possible to communicate in the traditional printed hotel 'welcome pack' or on hotel teletext.
Daniel Lister, airangel's Commercial Director, said: "Our added value content approach combined with free but controlled customer access is set to be a real threat to the existing 'pay to surf' hotspot models currently operating in many commercial and public spaces. These deals also reflect how businesses are beginning to seriously utilise the creative opportunities offered by digital platforms as it allows them to not just reach customers but fully engage with them - and help build invaluable brand loyalty. However, these companies embracing airangel is also indicative of the overall shift towards the delivery of highly tailored and interactive content to the individual consumer - whether at home, in an office, at the airport or in a hotel room."
All of airangel's client content, user-interface and back-end infrastructure is developed in house by a dedicated team of programmers, designers and web-masters, whilst airangel's secure public wi-fi networks have been developed in partnership with Nomadix, a leading global supplier of public access wi-fi gateways and services. Based in California, Nomadix also specialise in developing "zero user configuration" solutions for public access hotspots. This ensures that all users connect to an airangel network instantly -- regardless of their mobile device's wireless configuration or pre-installed hotspot 'sniffer' software.
About airangel
airangel was established in 2005 as a spin-out from Claremont Group Interiors, one of UK's leading suppliers of commercial interior solutions. Already very well established in the hotel and corporate office market, Claremont Group Interiors developed airangel as a virtual extension of its interiors business, applying its experience in delivering intelligent, customer-led design to new digital platforms. For more information visit
http://www.airangel.co.uk and
http://www.claremontgi.com
About Nomadix
Nomadix is the leading provider of intelligent network devices and interconnect services that make nomadic computing easy. The company offers the Nomadix Service EngineT (NSE), which allows the public access service operators and venue owners to deploy a cost effective, secure and easy to use high-speed internet access offering.
The company is headquartered in Newbury Park, California, and sells and supports its products and services globally through licensing and OEM partnerships, Value Added Resellers and Systems Integrators. For additional information, please visit
http://www.nomadix.com
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