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Intel Launches ‘Digital Communities’
By Suzanne Deffree -- Electronic News, 8/18/2005
What Intel Corp. did for wireless LAN, it hopes to do for WiMax.
Intel’s WLAN efforts, driven by its Centrino line of Wi-Fi chips and “Unwired” campaign, is often credited as giving the industry the marketing push it needed to make wireless a mainstream technology for the average consumer.
The chipmaker today announced a follow-on initiative to Unwired, the "Digital Communities" initiative, which aims to take wireless to complete cities through local governments with the use of current wireless and WiMax technologies.
Intel with help from a group of high-tech companies will work with 13 pilot communities to design, develop and deploy comprehensive solutions targeting civil service work and to bridge the “digital divide.” The applications range from automating mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors to increasing the safety and enhancing resource management of first responders by remotely monitoring vehicle location to enhancing parent, teacher collaboration for improved student success.
"As wireless technology continues to evolve, local governments are seizing the opportunity to address critical issues in their community including equal and affordable access to broadband and more efficient and effective government services," said Anand Chandrasekher, VP and director of Intel’s sales and marketing group, on a conference call today. "We are working closely with these communities to help them take the next step and harness the benefits of wireless technology. The benefits include lower cost of operations, enhanced public safety and security, and a foundation for growth and competitiveness."
The initiative brings the industry one step closer to communities connected via WiMax, a longer range wireless technology than wireless LAN, as Chandrasekher said WiMax pilots are being planned.
“Intel’s role in this initiative is certainly in providing the technology and disruptive technology in the form of Wi-Fi and WiMax and the enablement of those technologies in the industry,” he said. “It’s also building the industry momentum, working with our fellow travels and partners, … so that we can get adoption of the technologies in a broad manner and it’s driving industry momentum so we can participate in some proof of concept activities like you are seeing here today.
“Very similar, if you will, to when we launched the Centrino program and the Unwired program. This is built on that similar model.”
Participating pilot cities include Cleveland; Corpus Christi, Texas; Philadelphia; Portland, Ore. in the United States; along with Taipei, Taiwan; Mangaratiba, Brazil; Dusseldorf, Germany; Gyor, Hungary; Jerusalem, Israel; Principality of Monaco; Seoul, South Korea; Osaka, Japan; and Westminster, United Kingdom.
Intel partner companies in the Digital Communities program are: Accela, Airpath Wireless, Alvarion, British Telecom, CapGemini, CDW Government Inc. (CDW-G), Check Point, Cisco, Civitium, Dell, EarthLink, IBM, iMove, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, Pronto Networks, SAP, Szintezis Rt., Telindus, Tropos and Vertex.
Intel said it is also working closely with Muniwireless.com, an online site devoted to municipal wireless broadband, detailing the return on investment that local governments can realize from technology deployment. In conjunction with the Intel Digital Communities initiative, Muniwireless created a solutions library with case studies that highlights how applications can help governments increase productivity, save money and improve services.
