Technology

Mobile signals at airports: all over the map

Airports, Technology, , , , ,

Museum of Bags and Purses - telephone bag

Frequent travelers know that at some airports it sometimes still requires finding a ‘sweet spot’ or standing on one foot in order to make a phone call, check email or download large files on a smartphone or some other mobile device.

A recent RootMetrics report evaluating coverage and performance of the four major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint) at 50 of the country’s busiest airports helps explain why.

“In aggregate the clear winners are Verizon and AT&T on the data side, but that has a lot to do with their faster deployment of 4G LTE technology,” said Bill Moore, CEO of RootMetrics.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based firm measures and analyzes mobile services and tested speed and reliability of airport signals, looking at average download and upload speeds, email performance, web and app performance and network reliability.

Carrier-wise, the test gave top honors to AT&T and Verizon. Each carrier received top scores (RootScore awards) at 30 airports. T-Mobile performed well at 3 airports; Sprint was shut-out.

Sprint didn’t respond to a request to comment on the results for this story, but T-Mobile said it’s already making upgrades.

“T-Mobile has made significant enhancements to the network since this testing was conducted, including launching 4G LTE in 116 metro areas reaching 167 million people,” Grant Castle, vice president of engineering at T-Mobile, told CNBC. “We plan to have 4G LTE coverage nationwide by the end of this year.”

On an airport by airport basis, the testers found huge differences and variances by time of day and location. “Baggage claim areas, down in the basements, are typically the worst,” said Moore, “So if you’re trying to get in touch with someone to pick you up that can be a big challenge.”

The varied results make it hard to say which airports overall are the best and worst. “We looked at both reliability and speed, since those are the two factors that mean most to consumers,” Moore said.

“Across the 50 airports that we tested, Verizon was the only carrier to record a perfect score for network reliability. They did so in four different airports—Austin (AUS), Charlotte (CLT), San Antonio (SAT) and San Jose (SJC). On the flip side, Sprint’s network reliability performance at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston was the lowest we recorded across the 50 airports.”

For frequent travelers whose mobile devices are essential tools for taking care of business at airports before, between and after flights, hit and miss signal strength and speed “absolutely influence” what types of services can be accessed,” said Cathy Schetzina, senior research analyst with global travel market research company PhoCusWright, Inc. “An inability to complete their task efficiently via mobile could cause certain travelers to revert to alternative methods – like standing in line!” she said.

And that can have an impact on the bottom line for travelers, airports and carriers.

When he learned about the RootMetrics report, David Wilson, chief technologist at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, immediately checked to see how SEA’s mobile services compared to other airports. “AT&T service at our airport is fantastic and our relative performance to other airports is very good,” said Wilson.

If it wasn’t, he said he’d immediately begin negotiations to upgrade service. “Our goal is to provide excellent customer service and we know the strength of our both of cellular and Wi-Fi network affects our customer satisfaction ratings.”

RootMetrics expects to complete another round of airport signal testing by the end of the year and “we’re hearing that there are considerable efforts underway to improve coverage at many airports,” said Moore.

In the meantime, “At least this study lets travelers know that they are not alone and that everyone is feeling the data crunch at the airport,” said Jason Rabinowitz, Associate Editor at NYCAviation.com.

(My story about testing cell signals at airports first appeared on CNBC Road Warrior)

 

Can information technology smooth out the airport experience?

Technology

How are the world’s airports using IT – information technology – to improve the passenger experience?

According to the 9th annual SITA Airport IT Trends Survey published today, airports are using mobile apps, social media and intelligent technologies such as geolocation services to make it easier for passengers to get to and through airports.

One example: an increase in mobile and social media apps to keep passengers informed about their flight status and wait times.

The report found that 88% of the world’s airports plan to invest in these tools by the end of 2015 and that, as passenger numbers at airports continue to rise, “optimizing the use of the available real estate is a priority and passenger flow management will become more and more important.”

The IT solution to reducing congestion: geolocation.

According to the report, “Within the next three years, new way-finding services are set to become commonplace on mobile devices, allowing passengers to navigate easily through the airport. Just 10% of airports provide them today but this is set to jump to 70% by 2015.”

More self-service options are also on the horizon.

The report found that bag tag printing at airport kiosks has doubled from 2011 to 2012 and that 83% of airports intend to provide this option by 2015. 60% of airports plan to provide full self-service bag drop by then, according to the study.

The SITA survey results are based on responses from 91 airport operators, representing the views of 173 airports worldwide and were prepared in partnership with Airports Council International (ACI) and Airline Business. 

Glitzy new T3 opens at Las Veges McCarran Int’l Airport

Airport guides, Technology,

The newest, shiny big thing in Las Vegas isn’t a hotel, a casino or another Cirque de Soleil show.

It’s the $2.4 billion Terminal 3 (“T3) at McCarran International Airport.

16 international carriers will move their flights to T3 on Wednesday, June 27th and Thursday June 28th. Five domestic carriers (Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country and Virgin America) will begin service out of T3 on July 31st. And United and Hawaiian will begin operating out of T3 in late August.

The 14-gate terminal, the largest modern public works project in Nevada, is expected to serve more than 11.3 million passengers annually and includes many high-tech features and other amenities designed to increase efficiency and help make what officials consider to be the front door to the city as exciting as the city itself.

“The visitor experience in Terminal 3 will be unlike any other in the country,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, President and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). “From the moment passengers step out of the plane, they will immediately have a unique sense of place and receive the type of Las Vegas welcome we want them to receive.”

Setting the tone will be neon signs emulating the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign that greets travelers on Las Vegas Boulevard, large-scale artwork and new technology that allows airlines to invite passengers to weigh, pay for and tag their own bags at more than 200 self-service kiosks and to scan their own boarding passes and self-board at the gates.

“We are unaware of any other large U.S. airport that utilizes the various technologies McCarran has deployed,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Deputy Director of Aviation. She added that over the years McCarran has also been among the first airports in the country to introduce amenities such as free wireless Internet access, radio frequency identification tags for checked luggage and other technological processes.

New technology will make it easy to get around T3. Flight, baggage and wayfinding information is displayed on more than 900 large-screen digital signs. And, at the gates, digital signage on pylons displays high-resolution photographs of iconic attractions passengers might see at their flight’s destination.

Like the rest of airport, T3 has complimentary wireless service, but it also offers travelers 16 new shops and restaurants, plenty of power outlets for recharging gadgets, historical photographs and artwork that includes a sculpture of two airplanes made out of 3,000 smaller sculptures of butterflies suspended on fine wires.

And for those visitors who want to get right down to business upon arrival – or who want to continue gambling until they absolutely must leave for home – there are almost 300 slot machines scattered throughout McCarran International Airport’s new terminal.
“We simply hope our customers will remember the good times they had while in Las Vegas, and leave McCarran with nothing but the good impressions that stem from a seamless travel experience at the airport,” said Vassiliadis.

(My story about the new terminal at McCarran Airport first appeared on msnbc.com’s Overhead Bin)

Barcodes offer discounts at DFW

Shopping, Technology, , ,

If you’re traveling to or through the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) anytime before now and mid-January, keep your smartphone handy.

It could save you some money on parking, dining and shopping.

The airport has rolled out a holiday campaign that offers coupons and special offers for nearby concessions to anyone who uses the Microsoft Tag app to scan what looks to be highly visible barcodes that will be posted in the parking garages, the Skylink cars and otherwise scattered around the airport.

There’s more information here, including a link to download the app.

If you try it out, let me know what you find. And buy.

Travel light, but stay in touch

Fun Stuff, Technology, ,

Dick Tracy had a two-way wrist radio.

On the 60s TV show, Get Smart, Agent 86 had that infamous shoe phone.

Now there’s the M-Dress: a little black dress that the designers at CuteCircuit describe as a “functional soft electronics mobile phone.”

 

Here’s how they say it will work:

“The wearer inserts their usual SIM card in the small slot underneath the label and the dress is ready to be used, having the same phone number as your usual phone. When the dress rings, the simple gesture of bringing your hand to the ear will allow the sensor to open the call and when done talking the gesture of releasing the hand downwards will close the call.”

Sounds strange, but somewhat promising, especially if you’re hoping to travel light.

But don’t throw away your iPhone just yet: back in 2006, the same company now touting the M-Dress (“Coming Soon” says the website) invented a sensor-embedded shirt that lets people transmit hugs.

Time Magazine gave the shirt a Best Inventions of the Year award, but the hug shirt has yet to hit the market.