If you have tried to use Twitter on this fine Saturday morning, you may have found that some features are not working … and there is a Twitter message that says the system is “a little stressed.”
Probable cause? I will bet money there are more than a few tweets emitting from the tracks between Philly and DC. If so, here’s why. (Strange … I dint get no invite fo that train???)
Kudos to the team at WAAV, who scored a little piece of Wi-Fi history fo they own self! They provided Wi-Fi on the train for Obe’s Inaug — OI. WAAV dates back to 2005, so they have been in the game for a while. The WAAV news release is pasted below.
Speaking of Wi-Fi on trains, I will never forget calling the PR office at my local rail, the Trinity Railway Express (runs between Fort Worth and Dallas). I suggested adding Wi-Fi to their commuter trains in 2004. Their response? What’s Wi-Fi? They have it now, I am happy to report. I checked it out and took some notes, but will save the piece for a later date. Oh … I have had some conversations with the PR department at Amtrak as well, who seem to favor 3G connectivity for commuters.
When I queried the media relations department at Amtrak a while back, Marc Magliari told me Amtrak trains typically are not equipped with Wi-Fi, and many who travel (including Magliari), use a cellular broadband solution and/or a smart phone for e-mail or other productivity.
(Note to PR team at WAAV … at the time of your release President George W. Bush was in office. In the subhead of your news release, are you saying he was on the train too? Just giving you a hard time …)
Press Relese:
WAAV’s AirBox Selected to Provide Wi-Fi on President Obama’s Inaugural Train
President, Staff, and the Press Connect to the Internet While Traveling to the Inauguration
Cambridge, MA — WAAV®, the mobile cellular router company responsible for putting wireless Internet on Boston’s commuter trains, Greyhound, and other mass transit operators, announced today that Amtrak has selected the AirBox® X4 multiple-connection 3G cellular router to provide wireless Internet service to the Presidential inaugural train.
Multiple WAAV AirBoxes will be keeping the President-elect, guests, and press connected to the Internet while in transit, allowing them to check email, message supporters, surf the Internet, and check for the latest online news stories. Amtrak officials tested WAAV’s AirBox late last year and recently chose WAAV’s latest product, the AirBox X4, the world’s first quad connection cellular router, for Presidential use.
Check out: http://www.waav.com/products.html
The technology to support this level of mobile Internet service was first introduced by WAAV, Inc. in 2005. AirBox cellular routers create a Wi-Fi hotspot by converting 3G cellular signals into a wireless Internet connection. The AirBox X4, soon to be available to the public, uses four cellular connections in parallel to provide maximum performance, bandwidth, and coverage in mass transit applications.
“I am honored to have our company’s products chosen for such a momentous occasion in history,” said Brian J. Smith, president of WAAV, Inc. “The team at Amtrak has worked diligently to make this happen, and we are thankful to be a part of this project.”
WAAV is a leading provider of wireless Internet to the mass transit industry, having been chosen recently by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to provide wireless Internet on Boston’s commuter rail in addition to providing mobile Wi-Fi services for many other mass transit authorities.
The Key Features and Benefits of AirBox Cellular Routers:
* Connect multiple users and devices simultaneously
* Bandwidth allocation option – Evenly distributes bandwidth to multiple users
* GPS-enabled fleet management -Remotely track vehicles from any location
* Remote diagnostic management – Manage AirBox settings from any location
