Message: 15 Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:43:46 -0000 From: "9/14 Tri-Valley Herald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: ACE on-board Wi-Fi trial going smoothly so far
Published Sunday, September 14, 2003, in the Tri-Valley Herald ACE trains have wireless Web service By Brooke Bryant Staff Writer PLEASANTON -- The wide world of the Web has opened its doors to train commuters on the Altamont Commuter Express who no longer have to spend their time resting or reading on the way to work. ACE unveiled cars outfitted with Wi-Fi technology this week for a three-month trial that marks the first time in the United States that a rail system has logged on to the Internet. The debut has gone smoothly so far, said ACE spokeswoman Heather Swenddal -- not surprising, since commuters on the Stockton-to-San- Jose line are a largely tech-savvy group. "Some people have actually told us that they'll be able to leave on the earlier train," Swenddal said. As long as they can stay connected, "their companies will let them count it as time on the job." In fact, rail officials realized that many passengers were already spending their commute writing e-mails, which they saved and then sent once they reached home or work. The only complaint has been from people who report that the service is a little sluggish -- which is to be expected, she said, because the satellite signal takes longer than the instant access that many are used to. The RailPoint technology was installed in one car on each train by Canadian-based PointShot Wireless, which is also running a pilot project on a Canadian rail system. It allows passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices, like laptops, to log on to the Internet by simply opening up their browser. They can surf, send e-mails or connect to corporate intranets while they ride -- and starting Sept. 27, they can even take online classes through the University of Phoenix. The service delivers the signal using a satellite downlink and a cellular uplink. It is strongest on the car that is equipped with the Wi-Fi access point, and although some riders have reported being able to access it from nearby cars, ACE officials suggest riders sit in that car if they want to use the Internet. One person reported Friday on the ACE chat boards that a friend who lives next to an ACE station has been able to pick up the Wi-Fi signal briefly whenever the train is in the station. Although the service will be free during the three-month trial, ACE will start charging passengers after that. The eventual cost will depend on how many people are interested. According to surveys, between 25 and 30 percent of ACE passengers are likely to take advantage of the service. Now that commuters no longer have to go into tech-withdrawal during their daily train ride, interest in online classes is also running high, said Jackie McPartland, director of business development at the University of Phoenix. More than 230 passengers turned in interest cards during a recent university survey. The school, a pioneer in the field of on-line education, is rolling out new programs at the end of the month geared toward ACE riders. Passengers will be able to do much of their coursework on the Internet while they commute, working toward either a bachelor's or master's degree in business. The mixed delivery programs offer "the best of both worlds," McPartland said. The first class is held on-site with other ACE commuters at either the Livermore or Lathrop campus, and tailored to meet the scheduling needs of working professionals. Then students take three or four more classes online, and return to the campus for one final class before earning their degree. "It's a great application of the wireless technology," McPartland said. For more information about wireless service on ACE, call (800) 411- 7245 or visit http://www.acerail.com To find out more about the classes offered by University of Phoenix, call (800) 266-2107, ext. 1516 or log on to http://online.phoenix.edu -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
