CNET Networks UK launches atlarge.com, the world's first business traveller-generated WI-FI watch website
Beat the wi-fi connection blues with atlarge.com, the first comprehensive global guide to airport wi-fi hotspots
CNET Networks UK, the UK's largest online-only publisher, next week launches www.atlarge.com, the world's first dedicated user-generated 'wi-fi watch' website, which publishes unbiased and up-to-the-minute location reviews and reports about wi-fi hotspots for business travellers, written by business travellers.
atlarge.com is for people who need to 'travel connected', need to know where they can get online and whether there will be any issues or surprises that could affect their connectivity.
The website launches with exclusive partner The Cloud, Europe's leading wireless network operator. atlarge.com will be accessible to The Cloud's customers from its hotspot login page, www.thecloud.net, enabling its wireless internet customers to check the quality of connections in their locale before they subscribe to a service.
atlarge.com is a comprehensive guide for travellers interested in wi-fi, 3G, connection charges or other connectivity issues. The website features user reviews and ratings on everything from locations and costs to ease of use, comfort, availability of power points or where travellers can get a decent cup of coffee while they catch up on email.
atlarge.com launches with a focus on wi-fi hotspots at every commercial airport around the globe. In time this will expand to major hotels, conference venues and other public areas, country by country.
Published by CNET Networks UK and managed by the award-wining editorial team at silicon.com, atlarge.com is a first in user-generated content for a global audience of business travellers.
Tony Hallett, site director of atlarge.com, said: "Fast, secure internet access is a key requisite for business travellers and they now expect wi-fi as standard at airports. Too many business travellers experience difficulties when trying to get online and their productivity and business suffer as a direct result.
"atlarge.com aims to be a trusted destination for people who need to travel connected. CNET Networks UK is bringing user-generated content to the business space to create a community for travellers who can voice their opinions, share advice and find the information they need to get connected from any commercial airport in the world."
Related wi-fi research
silicon.com business traveller research
Business travellers are finding it harder than a year ago to get online at airports, railway stations and other locations, according to new research from silicon.com, the award-winning website for senior business decision makers.
This surprising finding comes despite an overall rise in the number of on-the-move sessions and travellers increasingly saying it is critical - that they will lose business if they don't get online.
The annual Business Traveller Survey completed by 615 silicon.com readers in February and March this year, compared with the same questions answered by 991 readers a year ago, found that the number answering 'sometimes' to the question 'Do you have difficulty getting online while on the road?' was up - seven points, from 60 to 67 percent. The number answering 'Yes, always' to the same question remained static, at 13 percent, while the answer 'Rarely, these days' fell from 23 to 17 percent of respondents and 'No' fell from 5 to 3 percent.
When asked whether they had lost business as a result of not being able to get online while on their travels, this year 20 percent of respondents said they had, versus 18 percent a year ago.
iPass global wi-fi research
Wi-fi usage increased by 44 percent in 2006 thanks to its growing appeal to business travellers as a reliable and useful connectivity method.
In the UK wi-fi access sessions grew by 75 percent in 2006. Heathrow airport is the most popular wi-fi venue and top hotel venues include the Radisson Hotel at Manchester Airport, the Hilton London Heathrow and the Hilton Paddington.
London, wi-fi capital of the world ahead of Singapore, is the most popular city for usage of wi-fi hotspots at non-business travel locations such as cafés, bookstores, and other retail locations.
Note to Editors
About CNET Networks UK
CNET Networks UK is a part of CNET Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: CNET), a worldwide media company and creator of content environments for the interactive age. CNET Networks Inc. is headquartered in the US and has offices in 12 countries globally, including the UK. CNET Networks takes pride in being "a different kind of media company", creating richer, deeper interactive experiences by combining the wisdom and passion of users, marketers and its own expert editors. CNET Networks UK focuses on the business technology, personal technology and entertainment categories through six UK-focused websites: ZDNet.co.uk, silicon.com, Builder UK, CNET.co.uk, atlarge.com, and GameSpot UK. CNET Networks UK also delivers one-to-one services through its direct marketing arm CNET Direct.
About The Cloud
The Cloud offers sophisticated national wireless LAN coverage across hotspots and city networks throughout the UK, Nordics, Germany and The Netherlands. The Cloud's infrastructure is a multi-service provider platform, which allows providers such as ISPs, mobile operators, gaming, VOIP and broadband companies to offer a fully branded wireless LAN experience to their customers. With The Cloud, site owners maximise their revenue potential by supporting all major service providers at their location and customers enjoy choice of provider and the best possible user experience. Launched in mid 2003, The Cloud actively partners with Vonage, O2, BT, Vodafone, Skype, iPass, Telenor, Nintendo and Intel, among others, to facilitate the growth of open platform wireless broadband services across Europe.
