EIM launches iZone Public Wireless Hotspot Service

The new technology will allow users to wirelessly connect to the Internet at broadband speeds from selected public locations.

As of today, iZones will be available to all existing EIM subscribers, DialUp and DialUp accounts associated with Al Shamil and BusinessOne, providing a highly accessible and convenient way to access the Net. By using a wireless enabled laptop or PDA, it will now be possible to gain access to a high-speed Internet connection in public venues without any cables or wires by simply entering the DialUp user-name and password into the browser of the wireless enabled device.

'We are committed to providing high speed Internet coverage in public venues to Internet mobile users,' commented Abdulla Hashim, Senior Manager Business Development & Marketing, EIM. 'Although this is the first significant step to offer mobility through a highly reliable, high-speed network, it is certainly not the last. This is just one wireless solution that will complement our fixed networks of broadband Internet technologies.'

To make the service affordable, users will be charged on usage basis in addition to the login flat charges.

Login charges will include a flat rate of Dhs.10 for the first login in any specific monthly billing cycle and any subsequent logins by the customers in that particular billing cycle month will be free. Meanwhile, usage charges will be applicable on the total volume of data downloaded and uploaded. Customers will pay only Dhs.5 per 1Mb in individual blocks of total data volume, which is rounded off to the next limit of 1Mb.

Planning to achieve a target of 100 hotspot locations by the end of 2004, öAbdulla Hashim revealed that EIM has already started to approach owners and management of certain public locations to deploy this technology to become a public service. 'We acted proactively to negotiate with them and highlight the business benefits of deploying iZones in their respective premises. Such a service will definitely attract more traffic and customers to these locations and lead to more prosperity to the business sector,' he added. 'We have successfully done our part in bringing public wireless Internet access service to live. We aim that it will become soon a real public service similar to public payphones and GSM network spread throughout the UAE.'

Hotspots are often located in high traffic venues such as airports, coffee shops, exhibition halls, shopping malls, convention centers as well as hotel lobbies. The Hotspot service is for those who find it the most convenient way to use the Internet while on the move. It is for all Internet users who look for a fast, mobile, and omnipresent Internet connection.