Intel leads service providers in W-enabling the hospitality industry

The company has been working with some of the country's leading wireless infrastructure providers, such as VTME with its SingleDigits Hotspot Solution to assist them as they roll out state of the art wireless networks in some of the city's key travel locations such as the Dubai Airport's Business lounges, the Burj Al Arab Hotel, The Grand Hyatt Dubai, The Fairmont Dubai, the Le Royal Meridien, the Dubai Marriott, the Novotel and others. Hence, visitors to the GITEX 2003 exhibition will have access to unique services that will allow them to remain in touch with their business throughout their stay in the city.

'Mobile computing is about continued productivity and the ability to carry out your business easily when you are away from the office,' said Gilbert Lacroix, President and General Manager of Intel Middle East and North Africa. 'It was therefore important for us to ensure that GITEX 2003 visitors get easy and practical access to the internet in order to follow up on work back home and stay in touch with customers and colleagues. The response from Dubai's hospitality industry has been tremendous, as hotels strive to ensure that all means of comfort are offered to their guests. Intel will always invest in breakthrough technologies to bolster the region's IT infrastructure, and we are pleased to work with solution providers to deploy the maximum number of wireless networks ahead of GITEX 2003. GITEX often sets the tone for the region's IT industry for the year to come and we are happy to play a role in enabling the IT infrastructure that will support such an important event'.

Unwiring Dubai's hospitality industry is part of Intel's ongoing international drive to roll out hotspots and offer business people and leisure-seekers alike new levels of flexibility and independence. Over the past year, the company has worked with several solution providers and collaborated with channel members to encourage the spread of wireless LANs as they are rolled out in various locations around the region. The last months witnessed a fast uptake in mobility, with implementations and testing in various locations such as French Connection café, More Café and the Airport Duty Free in Dubai, in addition to Virgin Megastore and the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in Lebanon. Other projects are also in the Pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

'Mobile computing is a long awaited answer to business travellers' needs,' said Andrew Huzyk, Director of Technology at The Fairmont Dubai, 'and as such is a service that is of strategic importance to us. With Intel Centrino mobile technology, connecting to a wireless network is very easy and efficient, users get significant performance without having to worry about the technical details, and will allow them to seamlessly use our Fairmont.Net wireless LANs in public areas and meeting rooms throughout The Fairmont Dubai'.

'Dubai is renowned for the facilities that it brings to business travellers, and it has always been a leader in term of adoption of the latest technologies that add value to visitors' said Xavier Moreau, Sales Manager, VTME / Single Digits 'we have cooperated with Intel to undergo verification of the wireless LAN solutions that we are implementing throughout the city, in order to confirm that they work best with Intel's Centrino technology, and make sure that visitors get access to the latest and greatest mobility standards that are available today'.

Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology is Intel's new technology designed specifically for mobile computing with integrated wireless LAN capability and breakthrough mobile performance. It also enables extended battery life and sleek, easy-to-carry notebook PCs. This is Intel's first integrated computing technology designed from the ground up for wireless notebook PCs. Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology supports some of the leading wireless security hardware, and software, the company works with leading access-point providers to allow users to stay connected and productive on the go-for a truly mobile lifestyle.