Solution

the unique nature of the Tech Day briefings. “Due to security considerations, network access to the Internet was not available for anyone who was not an authorized HP user,” Tom recalls. “This obviously caused huge problems for our blogger guests. When we made the announcement that there wasn’t going to be any Internet access, there were audible groans.”

“Given the ease of use, quality and the low cost, [the PHS300] is a sure winner.”

This type of security policy is quite common at large corporations. To protect intellectual property, trade secrets and other confidential information, IT departments typically impose strict network/Internet access restrictions. Efforts to work around these prohibitions require significant lead time and non-trivial expense. Even then, work arounds are sometimes just not possible, as was the case in this instance.

Fortunately, one of the bloggers, John Obeto of Absolute Vista, had a CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hot Spot.

“John plugged a 3G [mobile broadband] air card into his PHS300 and within 2 minutes he had a wireless hot spot up and running,” says Tom. “He gave everyone a generic logon and password and we were all connected to the Internet just like that. I was getting email and checking the web…bloggers were posting to their blogs...even the Intel and HP guys were using it. It was an amazing experience. Everyone in the room was asking: ‘Where did you get this?’ Who makes it? Where can I get one?’”

Nick adds: “I’ve run into this problem while at Buzz Corps and also in my previous job at Microsoft. There always seems to be issues with getting Internet access, obtaining approvals, securing provisioning by the IT department, etc.”

“And actually, it’s kind of embarrassing,” Tom interjects. “We have personal relationships with these bloggers, their families and their communities. I felt awful having to tell someone— after they’ve just flown 14 hours from New Zealand—‘sorry, no Internet,’ when that’s how they make their livelihood. The

CradlePoint [PHS300] really saved the day. These people are all heavy technology users and they were really impressed. We’re getting one for our company.”

“The cost was a pleasant surprise,” Nick continues. “If the price was north of $600 or $700, we’d have to think about it. But for less than $190, it’s a no-brainer. Even if we used it just once—and we obviously will use it much more than that—[the PHS300] will pay for itself.”

BENEFITS

“Before, if someone had an air card, they’d be the only one with an Internet connection and everyone else would be left out in the cold,” Tom notes. “Now, with a single air card, we can provide Internet for attendees at our events.

•Easy. “[The PHS300] was plug-and-play,” Tom reports. “It was like one-two-three-boom! It was up and running.”

•Fast. “[The PHS300] wasn’t as fast as a T-1 connection,” notes Nick. “But with 10 bloggers, plus Tom, me and the HP / Intel people all using it, we had pretty decent speeds. Obviously, upload and download speeds are more a function of the mobile broadband connection, not the PHS300.”

•Reliable. “The two days of the HP event,” reports Tom, “we didn’t experience a single problem. Even when I closed my laptop and it went to sleep, there were no drops. The connection would be there when I opened my laptop and it woke up.”

•Affordable. “After investing thousands of dollars in an event, spending a few extra dollars to ensure attendees have Internet access is well worth it,” notes Nick. “And we already have a mobile broadband account, so that cost isn’t an issue.”

Tom summarized his experience with the PHS300: “We hadn’t heard of CradlePoint before this HP event. From now on, we’re going to have one in our arsenal. It will allow us to always have Internet connectivity and be compliant with our clients’ security policies. Plus it will make us look smart to use cutting edge technology that resolves a long-standing problem that’s pervasive and frustrating.”