Untitled Document

New trends
Wireless LANs
in shopping malls

By Gillian Cheng

Since the emergence of wireless local area networks in public places, it has become possible to go online in some shopping malls.
To log on, users just need to bring their notebooks, including wireless LAN cards, and register at the shopping malls’ homepage. It is free of charge.
Synergy Computers and Communications Limited installed wireless LAN in Harbour City, reportedly the first shopping mall in the world providing this technology.
Said Mr. Francis Fong, the chief technology officer of the company: “We offer this technology because we see the need of frequent access to the Internet nowadays.
“People need to be connected to the Internet all the time because of their jobs. Besides, because people get used to the speed of broadband services at home, they expect data outdoors. Wireless LAN achieves this.”
From the business point of view, installing the wireless LAN in the shopping mall has been a promotional strategy.
“Wireless LAN is a new technology. Making use of it will assist in promoting the image of our mall as a logo of the trend and bringing new ideas to traditional people who go to shopping malls,” said Mr. C. M. Lee, the engineering controller of the Technical Department in Times Square Estates Limited.
Besides, advertisements for shops and details of special services in the mall are shown on the screen of the e-station — an information kiosk.
According to Prof. Michael R. Lyu of the Computer and Engineering Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the rising popularity of wireless LAN services in public places is due to its easy and convenient installation.
“Because the system is wireless, there is no need to dig out any parts of the buildings in order to build up the infrastructure.
“It is very suitable for old buildings that plan to be covered with the broadband system,” he said.
He said the low cost of installating wireless LANs is another motive for developing the system.
“It only costs about $1 million to set up the whole wireless system in a shopping mall,” said Prof. Lyu. “It does not need any additional software to restrict the access to the service or to charge users.
“It is a reasonable price for a big company to develop such a big project.”
The wireless LAN project has benefited a wide range of users.
“For example, computer companies can demonstrate to customers how to access the Internet by using the wireless LAN service in the shopping mall,” said Mr. Fong. “Other main users include insurance agents, businessmen and teenagers.”

Christine Yu

Shoppers can use free “e-stations”

Another special target for the system are tourists.
“They can share their happiness and wonderful experiences with friends thousands of miles away by using the free e-mail services provided by the system.
“Or they may can photographs by using the web camera on the e-station and send them out for fun.”
Allowing customers to enjoy surfing the Internet and keeping them informed with the late-breaking news are also attractive points of the system.
Apart from shopping malls, some universities and Hong Kong International Airport have also made wireless LAN avail-
able.
Miss Magazine Mak is a Year 2 student studying Public and Social Administration at the City University of Hong Kong.
“With the use of the wireless LAN service on campus, it is very convenient for us to do projects at school,” she said. “There is no need for us to link our computers to the server by long telephone lines or to go to the computer center, which is far away.”
By using the wireless LAN service in the airport, Internet users no longer need to queue up for telephone lines or data ports in major airport areas.
They have to pay for this service in the airport, however.
A local phone company executive said, “Our users are mostly business travellers at the airport. We encountered very good results after we launched the service in April.
“Therefore, we are working with other operators to expand our coverage at the airport.”
Mr. Fong said he expected that wireless LANs will be installed in more than half of Hong Kong’s shopping malls in coming years.

Since the emergence of wireless local area networks in public places, it has become possible to go online in some shopping malls. To log on, users just need to bring their notebooks, including wireless LAN cards, and register at the shopping malls’ homepage. It is free of charge. Synergy Computers and Communications Limited installed wireless LAN in Harbour City, reportedly the first shopping mall in the world providing this technology. Said Mr. Francis Fong, the chief technology officer of the company: “We offer this technology because we see the need of frequent access to the Internet nowadays. “People need to be connected to the Internet all the time because of their jobs. Besides, because people get used to the speed of broadband services at home, they expect data outdoors. Wireless LAN achieves this.” From the business point of view, installing the wireless LAN in the shopping mall has been a promotional strategy. “Wireless LAN is a new technology. Making use of it will assist in promoting the image of our mall as a logo of the trend and bringing new ideas to traditional people who go to shopping malls,” said Mr. C. M. Lee, the engineering controller of the Technical Department in Times Square Estates Limited. Besides, advertisements for shops and details of special services in the mall are shown on the screen of the e-station — an information kiosk. According to Prof. Michael R. Lyu of the Computer and Engineering Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the rising popularity of wireless LAN services in public places is due to its easy and convenient installation. “Because the system is wireless, there is no need to dig out any parts of the buildings in order to build up the infrastructure. “It is very suitable for old buildings that plan to be covered with the broadband system,” he said. He said the low cost of installating wireless LANs is another motive for developing the system. “It only costs about $1 million to set up the whole wireless system in a shopping mall,” said Prof. Lyu. “It does not need any additional software to restrict the access to the service or to charge users. “It is a reasonable price for a big company to develop such a big project.” The wireless LAN project has benefited a wide range of users. “For example, computer companies can demonstrate to customers how to access the Internet by using the wireless LAN service in the shopping mall,” said Mr. Fong. “Other main users include insurance agents, businessmen and teenagers.”	Christine Yu

	Shoppers can use free “e-stations”
	Another special target for the system are tourists. “They can share their happiness and wonderful experiences with friends thousands of miles away by using the free e-mail services provided by the system. “Or they may can photographs by using the web camera on the e-station and send them out for fun.” Allowing customers to enjoy surfing the Internet and keeping them informed with the late-breaking news are also attractive points of the system. Apart from shopping malls, some universities and Hong Kong International Airport have also made wireless LAN avail- able. Miss Magazine Mak is a Year 2 student studying Public and Social Administration at the City University of Hong Kong. “With the use of the wireless LAN service on campus, it is very convenient for us to do projects at school,” she said. “There is no need for us to link our computers to the server by long telephone lines or to go to the computer center, which is far away.” By using the wireless LAN service in the airport, Internet users no longer need to queue up for telephone lines or data ports in major airport areas. They have to pay for this service in the airport, however. A local phone company executive said, “Our users are mostly business travellers at the airport. We encountered very good results after we launched the service in April. “Therefore, we are working with other operators to expand our coverage at the airport.” Mr. Fong said he expected that wireless LANs will be installed in more than half of Hong Kong’s shopping malls in coming years.