Canadian Trains Get WiFi

TORONTO -- Intel Corporation, Bell Canada and VIA Rail Canada today announced plans to equip select VIA 1 train cars with wireless Internet access for passengers traveling between Montreal and Toronto.

For the first time in North America, wireless local area network or WLAN connectivity will be available within a moving passenger train car. The four-month pilot gives business and personal travelers with Wi-Fi enabled laptops or PDA devices another convenient option to wirelessly access the Internet, check email and connect to corporate networks while traveling on the train.

The pilot service combines the technical expertise, products and services of Bell Canada in conjunction with Intel and PointShot Wireless™. Bell technologies include Bell ExpressVu's* satellite service, Bell Mobility's 1X* next-generation wireless network and Bell's nationwide data network. Intel's services include Intel's "Wireless Verification Program" to enhance Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology user experience on Bell's network. Ottawa-based PointShot Wireless provides the wireless technology within the train. A recent survey conducted by PointShot and Intel showed that 90 percent of respondents saw benefits in having the ability to access the Internet and email while on a train.

"Our research indicates that Canadian business people want to use their travel time to catch-up on email, work on presentations and do other work-related tasks. They appreciate easy and convenient access to the Internet," said Doug Cooper, general manager, Intel Canada. "Our collaboration with Bell Canada and PointShot Wireless marks another step in making wireless technology more broadly available. With Intel Centrino mobile technology, notebook PC users have the freedom and flexibility of being unwired, whether at work, in a hotel, at an airport--even on a train."In a separate release:

PointShot Wireless announced today that the company’s RailPoint product is being used to provide Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity or 802.11) Internet access on board trains. Bell Canada, who is supplying the service on board select VIA Rail’s VIA 1 Montreal and Toronto trains, chose PointShot Wireless as its technology provider. The pilot service is now operational after having completed initial technical trials earlier in the summer.

Passengers access the broadband wireless service using an 802.11-enabled laptop computer or other similarly equipped mobile device, like a personal digital assistant. Nothing has to be done electronically to a passenger’s laptop computer to access the service. They simply open their device and the service appears through their Internet browser. Once online, passengers receive WLAN access to email, the Internet, corporate intranets, instant messaging and digital entertainment. The service is seamless and always on.

PointShot Wireless CEO Shawn Griffin said the trial is a major step forward for the company. “This service validates our solution for wireless access on passenger trains. Our market research and surveys have told us that business travelers will immediately see the value of wireless Internet access while they are in transit. . Bell Canada is widely recognized as a leader in deploying solutions for consumers and enterprises, and we are very proud that they selected PointShot Wireless’ RailPoint product for this pilot service.”

Intel Corp.

Bell Canada

PointShot Wireless Inc.