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Chris from Nailsea
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« on: February 20, 2012, 12:02:26 » |
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From a FGW▸ press release: First Great Western is enhancing 23 stations with the addition of free WiFi access.
The WiFi is facilitated by UK▸ public access WiFi provider, The Cloud, and will be available on station platforms, concourses and in waiting rooms.
The installations planned for March 2012, will introduce WiFi to 13 stations across First Great Western routes ^ including Oxford, Ealing Broadway and Maidenhead ^ with a network that will provide a fast internet connection, allowing customers to get online for travel information, reliable email access, and media streaming.
A revamp of existing Cloud WiFi installations is also planned for 10 further stations including Bristol, Reading and Bath.
First Great Western Station Contracts Manager Robert Jackson, said:
^Travellers now expect to be able to access the internet wherever they are, especially to pass the time during their commutes. The popularity of WiFi ^ as seen in stations with existing connectivity ^ made the decision to expand and upgrade a very easy one to make.^
^This deal with The Cloud enhances the WiFi network at those stations and extends it across many other busy stations, improving the service we provide to millions of passengers every year.^
Vince Russell, managing director at The Cloud, said:
^Millions of people received smartphones, tablets and e-readers for Christmas and will want to make the most of them on their commute. WiFi provides an excellent and consistent connection which, as many travellers will recognise, is not always possible when travelling across the country. This new deal with First Great Western will mean millions of extra travellers will benefit from The Cloud^s WiFi service.^
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Phil
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« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2012, 13:19:47 » |
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From a FGW▸ press release: ^Millions of people received smartphones, tablets and e-readers for Christmas and will want to make the most of them on their commute... This new deal with First Great Western will mean millions of extra travellers will benefit from The Cloud^s WiFi service.^
Another quote, this time received on every O2 Smart-phone in recent days: "From 1 February 2012 The Cloud wifi won't be part of your unlimited wifi anymore. You can still use BT Openzone as usual. Go to o2.co.uk/wifichanges to make sure you are ready." |
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tramway
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« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2012, 16:18:52 » |
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Which has completely ruined my visits to weatherspoons,  well almost. You also have the choice of the new O2 wifi hotspots, of which there are 2 in Bristol and 1 in Bath. |
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JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2012, 16:31:53 » |
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From a FGW▸ press release: ^Travellers now expect to be able to access the internet wherever they are..."
But not on an FGW train. One wonders whether the new franchise will specify WiFi on the HSTs▸ ? I think that it is unlikely the DfT» will be so prescriptive, as new rolling stock will be entering service in 2017, but there may be a case for the bidders to consider WiFi across the fleet, including the cascaded electric stock to the Thames Valley and the Class 158s, as an added value to their franchise bids. I may just have upgraded my dumbphone for a smart one by then. |
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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devon_metro
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« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2012, 17:14:43 » |
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I personally have never used a station wifi, find that at most major stations the 3G network will be considerably faster and I don't need to log in!
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chrisoates
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« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 01:14:50 » |
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I personally have never used a station wifi, find that at most major stations the 3G network will be considerably faster and I don't need to log in!
I've got unlimited Internet on my phone using GiffGaff and WiFi at a station would only be of use if it were underground or they paid me to use it. On a train might be useful if the signal was good. |
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2012, 01:21:18 » |
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I think one of the arguments for not providing wifi is that it may have had its day in some respects: there's a very strong trend towards smartphones or laptops with mobile internet through a 3G or 4G service and just a few luddites like me who don't have a phone with a data plan. Yet...  |
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JayMac
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 01:29:39 » |
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Luddite? I don't even have a mobile phone with a colour screen, wap, camera, MP3.... Heck, I can't even play 'Snake' on my current mobile. Am considering upgrading though. Undecided yet whether to go for the camera phone this time round:  |
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« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 01:34:59 by bignosemac »
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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BerkshireBugsy
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« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2012, 06:33:41 » |
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I think one of the arguments for not providing wifi is that it may have had its day in some respects: there's a very strong trend towards smartphones or laptops with mobile internet through a 3G or 4G service and just a few luddites like me who don't have a phone with a data plan. Yet... I've been on some east coast services which boast free wifi but found it very slow (probably because all my fellow pax were trying to use my bandwidth,) so my preference is to keep an eye on my 3G data usage |
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Surrey 455
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« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 23:01:44 » |
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Which has completely ruined my visits to weatherspoons, well almost You don't have to be an O2 customer to use The Cloud wifi. It's free to everyone but you have to log in. I personally have never used a station wifi, find that at most major stations the 3G network will be considerably faster and I don't need to log in!
Agreed. I get free internet on my contract for about ^12-15 per month. I didn't realize this at first so used to log on to the Cloud at coffee bars, pubs and even Mcdonalds. It's annoying having to log in before you can use it and as I now know I can use 3G for free I find it's often quicker than the wifi connection in bars, but not as quick as my wifi at home. |
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2012, 00:09:49 » |
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Funny how O2 stopped us using the cloud after they ended unlimited data tariffs !
Though o2's free wi-fi service (free for anybody when you register) aims to have thousands of hotspots by the end of the year, and 14000 of them by the end of next year. http://o2wifi.co.uk/my/about |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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JayMac
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« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2012, 00:17:51 » |
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And one important benefit of WiFi. It doesn't eat into your data allowance.
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"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
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devon_metro
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« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2012, 00:21:22 » |
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And one important benefit of WiFi. It doesn't eat into your data allowance.
Nor does viewing webpages or viewing emails. It's only downloading attachments/files/viewing videos etc. that actually count towards your data allowance. (at least that's how I understand it works, mine is unlimited regardless  ) |
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Btline
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« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2012, 12:47:39 » |
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I wish there was just one, free, Wifi provider. All these companies should team up, and half the UK▸ could have free WiFI access!
Even BT, let people turn their routers into hotspots; in return, you can connect to other peoples' BT routers.
I'm sick of companies that charge goodness knows what for the service.
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