Connected commuters

摘要

Think it's cool to surf the 'Net via a Wi-Fi hot spot while waiting to board your flight in an airport lounge? Well, the business and commuter travel industries are poised to go one better. Wireless 802.11 Internet access is coming soon to planes, cars, trains, limos, buses and even boats. Plagued by a brutal post-Sept. 11 downturn and ongoing terrorism fears, travel providers say they hope to win customers who want their Wi-Fi. No matter what the mode of transport, attracting new passengers and retaining old passengers is paramount. "This is a value-add for the passenger," says Craig Mathias, principal at consulting firm Farpoint Group. Business travelers will go out of their way to pick a flight or train that has reasonably priced Internet access, Mathias says ― not having to face a pile of e-mail later is a huge benefit.