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Hotel Internet Services Moves the Hospitality Industry to Smarter Wi-Fi From Ruckus Wireless

Posted on: Monday, 23 February 2009, 07:00 CST

Delivers Smart Wi-Fi to Over 8,000 Hotel Rooms in Less than Six Months

CLEARWATER, Fla., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotel Internet Services, Inc. (HIS), a leading provider of wireless systems and services across the hospitality industry, today announced that it has selected and is standardizing on Ruckus Wireless(TM) ZoneFlex(TM) Smart wireless LAN (WLAN) technology to support next- generation high-speed Internet access (HSIA) service within hotels, resorts, timeshares, condos, conference centers, RV parks, and other venues throughout the U.S.

Over the last six months, HIS has installed Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi systems in over 8,000 hotel rooms at premiere properties such as the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, Daily Management Inc.'s timeshare resorts and MGM's Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino in Nevada.

The selection of Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology is based on explosive demand for faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity that can support a myriad of media-rich applications from Internet access to voice communications and digital signage.

"Hotel guests no longer consider Wi-Fi an amenity but look for venues that can provide ubiquitous coverage, stable connectivity and fast performance," said Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services. "As Wi-Fi is integrated into virtually every mobile device and video content becomes more pervasive, vanilla Wi-Fi just won't cut it."

Unlike other Wi-Fi technology, Smart Wi-Fi from Ruckus Wireless is based on state-of-the-art Wi-Fi signal routing technology that extends signal range and automatically adapts to changes in the environment that degrade performance, and allows hotels to offer better coverage and more reliable services at a lower total cost of ownership.

"Because Wi-Fi is now viewed as a revenue-generating vehicle and customer satisfaction metric for hotels, conventional Wi-Fi technology is no longer acceptable," said Patrick. "Meanwhile Wi-Fi's role is expanding as hotels look to this technology for new applications such as a digital signage, video over Wi-Fi and voice communications for staff. Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi technology was developed to provide better and more stable coverage at a dramatically lower cost of ownership to hotels."

Patrick noted that the ability to deploy Wi-Fi access points in properties without having to run Ethernet cabling to every device, a concept called wireless meshing, is another huge advantage for hotels in minimizing complexity and cost.

Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi is based on recent technical advances that enable Wi-Fi signals to be focused only toward users requiring service. Through the use of patented beamforming and beamsteering technology called BeamFlex(TM), Wi-Fi signals are constantly routed over the highest performing paths and around obstacles that cause interference and degraded performance.

"People simply want Wi-Fi to do more than it ever has before," said David Callisch, VP of marketing for Ruckus Wireless. "Our focus and innovation in this area have allowed us to transform Wi-Fi from a technology of convenience into a reliable and ubiquitous utility. This is where the industry is driving Wi-Fi technology, and we are taking it there."

About Hotel Internet Services, Inc.

Founded in 2003, Hotel Internet Services (HIS) is a leading provider of secure wired and wireless Internet services, unattended business centers, kiosks and meeting & convention services for hotels, resorts, timeshares, casinos, and other venues. Over 100,000 business and leisure travelers use HIS Internet services each month. HIS provides services to hundreds of hotels, resorts, casinos meeting and conference venues across the US. Hotel Internet Services has offices in California, Florida and Nevada. www.hotelwifi.com

About Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Based in Sunnyvale, California, Ruckus Wireless is a next-generation Wi-Fi company credited with pioneering "Smart Wi-Fi" technology. Named a 2007 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, Ruckus Wireless was formed in 2004 at Sequoia Capital. The company designs, develops and markets industrial-strength Wi-Fi systems that provide reliable distribution of delay-sensitive multimedia content and services over standard 802.11 technology. Its flagship product, ZoneFlex, is the first wireless LAN system to combine the best in centralized wireless LAN principles with state-of-the-art Wi-Fi advances such as smart antenna arrays and wireless meshing. Its MediaFlex line of multimedia wireless routers is used by more than 125 broadband operators around the world to extend digital services such as IPTV throughout the home without wires. The company's patented hardware and software technologies deliver predictable performance, extended range and real-time adaptability to changing Wi-Fi environments. The company has raised approximately $42 million in financing from premier venture capital investors, consumer electronics companies and broadband operators such as Motorola, T-Ventures, Telus, Sutter Hill Ventures, Mitsui, Sequoia and others. Ruckus Wireless is led by President and CEO Selina Lo. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ruckuswireless.com.

SOURCE Hotel Internet Services, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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