Just as easily as I hopped on Southwest Airlines to leave Phoenix for the press conference at San Francisco International Airport, I am now going to blog backward in time.  Yes … I had to leave paradise behind, to go do some self promotion at SFO.  Here is what I left behind, the previous day …

So, I hope the staff at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch were forewarned. “There’s a blogger here … guard the silverware.” Hah! Man … the resort is extraordinary!

So many pools and so little time … moonlit gondola rides on the pond separating the resort from the golf club … a classical guitar/flamenco ensemble playing in the lounge area … beautiful palm trees and truly awesome saguaro cacti (carnegiea gigantea) everywhere.

But alas, today’s topic is Wi-Fi … I mean, I have Wi-Fi in “my name” and when I booked the reservation that was my reason for making a quick stop in Scottsdale, before journeying on to San Francisco for the press conference.

So what do you think happened? I checked into my room, and headed for the Regency Club on the same floor. As I downed about a gallon of lemonaid to combat the desert’s attack on my fluid levels, I fired up the laptop. (Note to management … that fork I took is in my room …)

Cool enough. A splash page pops up and it lists several options. The premium option says the user can experience optimum bandwidth — a 24-hour dose, for $14.95 — a good option especially for uploading presentations and other large documents.

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This just in from the Northwest …

T-Mobile Introduces web2go and Simplified Data Pricing
Internet On The Go Available Across Phone Portfolio
And Unlimited Data Pricing Provide Tremendous Value

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Nov. 20, 2008- Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc., is introducing web2goSM, an intuitive and improved Web browsing experience designed to work across T-Mobile’s portfolio of phones. Web2go makes it easier to view and navigate the Web from basic voice phones and smartphones alike, providing customers with better Web browsing, improved search with Yahoo! oneSearch^TM, a customizable home page and a simplified shopping and download experience.

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Blogging LIVE from San Francisco International Airport:

My name is Kent Pingel … and I am a blogger.

And yes, I am nervous … I’ll admit that, committing the cardinal sin of press conferences.

AND I have not had my coffee … so that is a dangerous combination …

So, let’s just start with an icebreaker — since I am more accustomed to being on this side of the camera …

Everyone say, “PING!”

San Francisco media at SFO launch

Now …

Thanks for coming.  When I first blogged a few years ago, I traveled 18,000 miles to 43 cities and EVENTUALLY there was lots of media hoopla — USA Today, Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, eWeek, Wi-Fi Planet … blah, blah, blah.

But — before any of that — SFO and T-Mobile invited me into their house … into this cool, huge Wi-Fi hotspots (where they also allow planes to take off and land).

That was in the first week of my travels — my point:  SFO and T-Mobile recognized the potential before anyone else … they knew a good thing when they saw one … and thats why I want to launch my next tour here today. Later, I will be running around … in full geek mode, laptop open, checking out the access points and maybe doing some shopping too.

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This news release just came in … right on time, before the PingWi-Fi event at SFO:

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SEEKS RIGHTS TO OPERATE AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT

DALLAS — Nov. 19, 2008 — Southwest Airlines confirmed today that it has submitted a bid that would allow the airline to assume ATA Airlines’ rights to operate at New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) Airport through a purchase of ATA Airlines.

The bid was submitted in connection with the publicly announced auction process in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis and consistent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent rule clarification regarding LaGuardia’s slots.

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My colleague at PingWi-Fi tells me I am superstitious.  Not so … “just don’t want to take any chances” as my high school coach was prone to repeat.

As I headed for the airport this morning, ready to load up for the press conference in San Francisco, there was a big sign.  A police car, an officer, flares and orange safety cones were diverting all traffic from the interstate.  The highway between Fort Worth and Dallas (which I needed, to hit my flight on Southwest) was closed.  Yes … since I needed to travel.  That was a bad sign.

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This news release is getting lots of play, and generating a few ideas …

Qualcomm To Enable Skyhook Wi-Fi Positioning on pgsOne Platform

Skyhook Wi-Fi Positioning System to be Incorporated with Qualcomm gpsOne Technology

BOSTON and SAN DIEGO – November 17, 2008 – Skyhook Wireless, maker of the Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) and XPS 2.0 hybrid positioning system, today announced that Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), the leading wireless provider of GPS and Assisted GPS (A-GPS ) technology platforms, now has a license to distribute Skyhook’s WPS and incorporate the technology into its gpsOne® positioning technology platforms. Skyhook’s WPS solution will deliver Wi-Fi positioning for gpsOne and enable hybrid location positioning capabilities on select future platforms.

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Lone Star International Film Festival, winners, staff

Jokingly, for the final day of the Lone Star International Film Festival, I suggested to my colleague that I would wear my new, #2,

Bishop, Caddell Packing Heat For Texas Tech

Texas Tech jersey in honor of the most exciting football team in the country.  I mean, Tech graciously took a break in their schedule this week, allowing me to focus my attention on the film festival, after they whipped Texas and OSU the previous two weeks.  The least I could do was wear the colors … But that was just crazy talk.

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Sundance Film Festival has its offshoots Slamdance and TromaDance.  Lone Star International Film Festival also has a derivative — “Disney Land.”

Playing to a packed room, a series of short format pieces tagged “Webisodes” invited viewers into the curious mind of Fort Worth’s Andrew Disney, a video director whose “daytime job” entails more corporate messaging at Kinetiq.

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Fort Worth’s Lone Star International Film Festival’s opening night set the bar high with a screening of “Sunshine Cleaning” which earlier was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at that other Sundance Film Festival in Utah. In “Sunshine Cleaning” the plot pokes fun at taboo topics ranging from illegitimate offspring to the lowest point of the human condition — decomposition. The title refers to a business two sisters operate, cleaning up the messes from other lives.

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Boingo Wireless Acquires Opti-Fi Networks

Acquisition Will Add 25 More Airports to Boingo Footprint

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Boingo Wireless® announces that it has acquired Opti-Fi Networks, a limited liability company from Parsons Transportation Group and ARINC, that provides Wi-Fi infrastructure implementation and management for airports around North America.

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