Intel SA debuted its wireless-networking-on-the-chip Centrino technology along with SA`s "first functional" wireless hotspot at a coffee shop in Sandton on Friday.
In a field mired in uncertainty over the legalities of provisioning, the move paid off with immediate visibility of the on-the-move technology at work, but lost some of its glamour with the forced involvement of Telkom.
One of many partners, Telkom provided a line to DataPro, the Internet service provider used for the occasion.
With a satellite link from InfoSat, Internet content came back into the venue via a dish installed on top of the 17-floor building, with cabling spanning 350 metres into the caf'e.
Cisco provided wireless equipment in the shape of access points (wireless "hubs"), and several notebook vendors demonstrated Centrino in their laptop models.
This one is important
Intel, and specifically Intel SA, has a lot riding on Centrino. Firstly, SA, a perpetual telecoms wallflower (in terms of the stranglehold on competition posed by Telkom`s exclusivity) has not shown much activity surrounding wireless.
"Consider, however, the hotspot explosion in Europe, especially Britain, in the past year, and it is clear things could still change very quickly," says Sharad Gandhi, director, Intel EMEA.
Worldwide, hotspots are set to double this year, according to research house Gartner.
Amid uncertainties over the right of players other than Telkom to provide wireless Internet access in public places, "both ICASA [the Independent Communications Authority of SA] and Telkom have said they would enforce the letter of the law", says Steve Nossel, Intel SA country manager.
"Although this is disappointing, given the slow rate of acceptance and roll-outs, Telkom has said it is keen to involve us in its initial wireless strategy. But a lot of providers are raring to go," he adds.
One example is InfoSat, a Sentech company. Sentech, holder of a multimedia licence, might well be in the running for wireless provisioning, but Intel involved Telkom nonetheless in this venture.
But wait, there`s more
Intel faces other problems too with this technology. The chipset comes integrated with the vendor`s (industry standard) 802.11b networking card. Users and laptop manufacturers who don`t want it can`t display the Centrino logo. With this strategy, Intel takes its chances with ever more choosy customers, who may prefer other faster (less accepted) standards or a different vendor.
Yesh Surjoodeen, HP product manager, says HP will embrace Centrino technology initially in the short lifecycle, value-based notebook range. The C (corporate) range notebooks, whose buyers expect longer lifecycles (and won`t bet the farm on any specific wireless standard), will not feature Centrino wireless as yet, although the 855 chipset and processor will still be built into new HP notebooks.
Centrino claims improved performance, longer battery life and high portability (of thin and light notebooks). Although performance benchmarks look favourable, and Intel claims all the different components perform best together, commentators have questioned the need to pay more money for double the battery life (up to five hours) when another battery will do.
Whatever the outcome of Centrino`s push for the mobile and wireless market in one integrated go, it should do its bit to raise awareness of more widespread deployment of hotspot technology in SA.
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