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News
Issue #2001 - 49
(December 2001)
(Updated Dec.
5, 2001)
APPLICATIONS
Disney World Goes Wireless
Behind the child-like wonder of the
Magic Kingdom and the awe inspiring Epcot Center, lies a complex
wireless infrastructure that does everything from authorizing credit
card sales to dispatching shuttle buses to tracking Disney cruise
patrons.
Speaking at the recent Gartner Wireless LAN Summit in Boston,
Murshid S. Khan, director of telecommunications and technology
support at Walt Disney World, spoke of how the theme park, with over
100,000 visitors a day, uses wireless technology.
The impetus to deploy 802.11b coverage came from visitors, said
Mr. Khan. "We were running a food and wine festival and a lot
of people had complained in the past they couldn’t use credit
cards. So we changed that."
With over two hundred 802.11b wireless access points located
throughout the park, employees can complete credit card
authorizations on the spot. The technology also allows employees to
become mobile, bringing merchandise and food to visitors waiting in
line for rides or shows.
While mobile technology has enhanced revenues, it has also posed
some challenges such as sporadic coverage, integration with wired
networks and application, and seamless roaming, but by far security
is the toughest.
Even though Disney uses 128-bit encryption and other means of
detecting hackers, Mr. Khan said, his department is constantly
looking to boost security.
Disney does plan to migrate to the faster 802.11a network in
time, Mr. Khan said, but has no plans to deploy Bluetooth wireless
technology or wireless Internet cafes.
For more information: http://www.disney.com
(Additional source PCWorld)
Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: Walt
Disney theme park is an excellent media for introducing new technology
- it is magical, it is exciting and it is futuristic. Therefore, we
applaud Disney World to put its faith in wireless LANs and wireless
credit card authorization application. We are glad that they did not
succumb to wireless hot spots for e-mail. Those who want to access
e-mail that badly in the park should stay behind or depend on their
smart phones. Disney Land fun time should be sacred and private.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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