Europcar offers travellers mobile WiFi service from Heathrow, Gatwick & Edinburgh

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:31:56 GMT

Europcar, leading car hire provider in the UK and Europe, is trialling a new WiFi hire service from its Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh Airport locations. Designed to provide customers with on-the-go connectivity, and help them avoid excessive international data roaming charges, the new partnership with fonmigo meets the growing need for international travellers to remain connected.

Available from Europcar's Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh Airport locations, TEP devices will be available during the trial which runs until 3rd October 2011. The device offers 1GB internet usage, fits in a pocket and acts like a WiFi hotspot, providing the facility to connect to up to 5 devices simultaneously. Compatible with all devices that access the internet, from tablets and laptops to Smartphones, it is the ultimate way to keep travellers connected.

"The internet is part of everyday life, which means business and leisure travellers are demanding on-the-go connectivity," explained Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar Group UK. "However, the reality is many people struggle to get the service they want while overseas, facing hefty roaming charges, network issues and an absence of mobile and on-the-go WiFi services.

"Through our innovative new WiFi hire service, which we are trialling at several key airports, we are giving travellers wireless internet access wherever they go, as an added value service with their car hire."

Europcar's mobile WiFi service allows travellers to remain connected and use Smartphones and tablets to access invaluable tools such as GPS, maps and guides. It also gives Europcar customers visiting the UK the chance to save on roaming charges and hotel WiFi charges, providing genuine added value on and off the road.

"Airlines and train operators already offer WiFi and now Europcar is giving car hire customers the same level of service," continued Ken McCall.

"Internet connectivity has become an essential for business and leisure travellers, but roaming charges are a big hurdle for many. Our unique service helps travellers avoid costly fees, allowing them to benefit from a seamless WiFi connection wherever they go. This is the latest innovation from Europcar, as we continue to bring our customers added value benefits that deliver the ultimate car hire experience."

The trial takes place at Europcar's Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh Airport locations with WiFi devices available to hire on all vehicle bookings, excluding one-way car hires for £9 per day. There is no deposit but a replacement fee of £100 inc. VAT will be charged if the device isn't returned with the hire car.

The price includes 1GB Internet usage per day and each mobile WiFi includes a Charger, USB lead to connect to PC, Instruction cards and carrying pouch. Up to 5 devices can be connected simultaneously and there's no need for installation, cables or software.

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About Europcar:
Europcar is the leader in car hire services in Europe. Present in 150 countries, the company provides customers with access to the world’s largest vehicle rental network through franchise operations and partnerships. Through Europcar’s portfolio of brands, the company and its franchisees generated more than €3 billion in revenue in 2010, including nearly €2 billion in consolidated revenue. With 6,500 employees committed to delivering customer satisfaction and an average fleet of close to 200,000 vehicles, Europcar is conscious of its corporate social responsibilities. Winner of the first World Travel Award recognising the World's Leading Green Transport Solutions Company, Europcar also was honoured with the Award in 2010, the second time it was presented. Europcar is owned by French investment company, Eurazeo.

Plusnet reveals half of customers want businesses to provide Wi-Fi

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:41:16 GMT

A Plusnet Business survey* has revealed that the average Brit spends ten hours a day being connected to the Internet. The study demonstrates how the demand for Internet access has increased, with almost a quarter (24%) of people saying that they need it to be able to update people should anything happen.

Small businesses need to take note that almost half (49%) of respondents said Internet access, provided by businesses, is needed in public areas. Over 40% of respondents in the North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, London and Wales say that having access to Wi-Fi is a deal-breaker when deciding on a hotel, showing how much this can affect a business' bottom line.

This study by Plusnet Business has uncovered how much of an impact a decent wireless internet connection for customer use can bring to many sectors, with almost a fifth saying they will purposely choose a restaurant (17%), bar (17%), pub (17%), and shopping centre (18%), over one without it.

For nearly a third of respondents (29%), regular access isn't good enough, they have to be constantly connected and can't even queue or take a short journey without entertaining themselves online. Well over a third (46%) of respondents in London admitted that they needed to be connected to the Internet all the time, to stop the boredom of having to queue.

Talking about the survey, Nick Silverwood, Head of Business, Plusnet said: "Through the Plusnet Business survey we can see that installing something as simple as free Wi-Fi for customers can help generate repeat custom and definition within a market. With increased competition in the hospitality and retail markets, it's important for small businesses to understand how investing in customer broadband has the potential to really boost sales. With over one in ten (12%)** respondents estimating that 21-30% of their profit is down to a fast and reliable Internet connection, there is a clear benefit to getting online."

Plusnet has been successfully delivering high-quality, well-supported business broadband and connectivity products for over 10 years. For more information call 0114 296 5182 or go to www.plus.net/business.

-END-

Notes to Editors:
*The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 5th and 10th August 2011, and included 1,002 respondents
**The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 11th and 19th July 2011, and included 1,510 respondents, 893 of those were workers

About Plusnet:
Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple - to think and act differently from other providers and save its customers money. That's not changed since the day it launched. More than a decade later, the company is still providing cheap broadband and broadband bundles from its HQ in Yorkshire. In fact, Plusnet guarantees it "won't be beat" on price for standalone broadband.

Of course, just being great value is only part of the deal. Supporting customers' service is just as important to the company. Its telephone and online support provide loads of help right around the clock. Plusnet also offers customers the chance to compare broadband prices online to ensure that they are getting the best deal possible.

Plusnet customers and industry professionals think the home broadband provider supports them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove their status as one of the best broadband providers. Customers and industry professionals think Plusnet support them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove it. The company was especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey and be an official "Which Recommended Provider" for Plusnet Value home broadband.

BT and Heineken partner to offer Wi-Fi to London pubs

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:21:47 GMT

Drinkers at nearly 100 London pubs and bars are to get fast Wi-Fi, following a new BT and Heineken partnership with plans to extend the wireless internet service to a further 200 pubs across the UK by the end of 2012.

Through Wi-Fi, customers can access a special area of the internet, the Heineken Hub, for which the UK's newest newspaper, i, the quality daily and sister paper to The Independent, is supplying exclusive content.

Customers can get online quickly with any wireless PC, tablet or mobile phone at any of the Wi-Fi hotspots and will also receive exclusive, location-specific content including the best stories from news, views, features, business, culture and sports. It is the first time this content has been available online and it will be updated daily.

The pubs boost BT’s hotspot numbers to more than three million - the largest network in the UK. More than 200,000 sites have been added in the last three months.

Rick Lawrence, Marketing Manager at Heineken UK said: "The partnership with BT reinforces the brand's reputation as a leading player in the development of technology. The Wi-Fi initiative will provide excellent exposure for Heineken among its key target audience and build greater affinity between the brand and its consumers."

Chris Bruce, CEO, BT Openzone, said: "Using Wi-Fi to deliver free and exclusive content, Heineken is engaging and exciting pub goers and will undoubtedly increase business. It's an exciting time to be involved in hospitality marketing."

Wi-Fi access is completely free to over five million BT Broadband customers, plus users of iPads, iPhones, iTouch, Android, Samsung and Blackberry devices and smartphones through other BT partnership agreements.

In further developments to the UK’s largest Wi-Fi network, BT has also added Wi-Fi access at John Lennon Liverpool, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Teesside regional airports.

BT Wi-Fi is also available at 13 Shepherd Neame hotels in Kent, Starbucks, major hotel chains including Thistle, Guoman and Ramada Jarvis, Welcome Break and Roadchef Costa motorway service areas, Network Rail stations, airports and thousands of homes and independent businesses.

BT also extended its relationship with Hilton in June to provide a fully managed suite of Wi-Fi internet services to more than 17,000 bedrooms, public areas and meeting and conference spaces in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

ENDS

About BT:
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and phone products including business broadband and fibre broadband, as well as converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group’s revenue was £20,076 million with profit before taxation of £1,717 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

BT hits the one million spot

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:58:06 GMT

BT has announced that it has reached its goal of building a million-strong Wi-Fi hotspot network. Now the largest network in the UK and Ireland, the hotspots are available in homes, independent businesses, high street chains and major city centres.

BT Wi-Fi users are also on track to spend more than a billion Wi-Fi minutes online this year (April09 - 31 Mar10), a peak attributed in part to the massive growth in UK iPhone traffic. In the last eight months, BT has signed UK deals to provide O2, Orange and Vodafone iPhone customers* with BT Openzone Wi-Fi access.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer, BT Retail, said: “Whether at home, at work, or when out and about, wireless access is central to keeping people and communities better connected. We’ve grown from 500,000 to one million hotspots within six months, and will continue to add more to meet demand from smart-phone, laptop, iPod and now e-reader users.”

The million-strong Wi-Fi estate comprises hotspots from the BT FON Wi-Fi Community, BT Openzone, plus BT Openzone hotspots via the BT Business Hub. Well-known brands offering access include Hilton, Thistle, Ramada Jarvis and Macdonald hotel chains, Caffe Nero and Starbucks coffee stores, Welcome Break and RoadChef Costa service stations, British Airways, Star Alliance, American Airlines and SkyTeam airport lounges plus other UK transport hubs.

Five million BT consumer and business broadband – plus BT Mobile Broadband - customers have inclusive Wi-Fi minutes in their contracts to surf, work or make cheaper VoIP calls. Casual users can buy access from as little as 1/2p per minute. BT Openzone customers can access a further 65,000 hotspots in the UK and overseas through international roaming partners. BT FON members have access to another 225,000 FON (hot) spots in the UK and worldwide.

The millionth hotspot is now live and BT will launch a competition on Thursday 11th February. Further information can be found via the BTOpenzone Twitter feed.

Notes to editors
* Plus O2 Mobile Broadband customers

The estate includes:
Circa 860,000 BT FON hotspots: These are public Wi-Fi hotspots broadcast by BT Home Hubs.
Circa 137,000 BT Business Hubs broadcasting a BT Openzone public Wi-Fi signal
Circa 3,800 BT Openzone hotspots in popular UK and Ireland locations including hotels, coffee shops, major city centres, airport lounges and terminals and marinas.

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About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended March 31, 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.

Top Articles Tagged with wi-fi

Europcar offers travellers mobile WiFi service from Heathrow, Gatwick & Edinburgh

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BT hits the one million spot