That’s the bottom line from a recent USA Today interview reporter Nancy Trejos recently conducted with five top hotel executives.

The objective of the interview (and if you click on the link, you can see a video with hotel execs discussing the issues) was to ascertain what modern hotels need to have to attract consumers.

True, hotels are experimenting with technology, design, amenities, and more. But there are some things a any hotel worth its salt can’t market without: accommodations for people’s devices. Yep. Take the pillows, take the beds, but a hotel without a great Wifi connection is all but dead.

Is free Wi-Fi finally going to become the norm at all hotels?

InterContinental Hotel Group’s CEO Richard Solomons says yes.

“One of our biggest “dissatisfiers” that we had a few years ago was Wi-Fi availability, price — and actually how well it worked,” says Solomons. “If you go back a few more years than I’ve been in the business, the hotel room was a big advance than what we had at home. How many people at home had air conditioning or separate en-suite bathrooms? In some ways, the wider world moved on faster than the hotel industry. You can go and spend 99 cents on a hamburger at McDonald’s and get free Fi-Wi or a cup of coffee.”

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts CEO Mark Hoplamazian agrees.

“It’s been a guest essential for a while now, and we felt that making it conditional was demonstrating maybe a tone deafness.”

Marketing to millennials (people born in the 80s through the early 2000s) appears to present its own challenges. And they are the hotel consumers of the near future. What did the CEOs have to say?

Preferred Hotel Group CEO Lindsey Ueberroth indicated his own company has done some studies.

“We actually did a study on millennials,” notes Ueberroth. “They are definitely a growing powerhouse, but to build a brand around Millennials is an interesting concept. The reality is, they are not spending their own money. They are spending other people’s money right now. And they are influencing the Baby Boomers who have the time and the money to spend.”

But going forward? Wyndham Hotel Group CEO Geoff Ballotti sees the writing on the hotel wall.

“When you look at the four segments, (millennials) are the second fastest spending and the fastest growing,” says Ballotti. “The research last year said the Millennials’ spend on travel grew 20 percent, which I don’t think it did in the Generation Xers or the Boomers. These people are spending our corporate money, and they are out traveling, and we need to market to them, and we need to appeal to them.”

The entire interview — covering everything from wiki to mobile keys to strategies for building brand loyalty — is well worth the read, and essential for anyone in the hotel industry.

The post Hotel Hotline: Take the Pillows, Take the Beds, But a Hotel Without Wifi Is Going to Be Dead appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

Despite offerings like Google Glass impressing many, these wearable devices remain a rare sighting in the world because of numerous barriers to adoption – everything from cost to availability (Google Glass still isn’t available for all to purchase).

Of course, that is expected to change soon. But more factors are in play than we realize when it comes to driving the demand for smartglasses.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, wireless technologies will play a pivotal role in the emerging wearable devices market.
In 2015 Smartglass shipments will see WiFi penetration of 79 percent. Devices from major brands such as Google and Samsung will be key to driving wearables growth for the next five years.

“For the Smartglasses user, WiFi is a key enabler, allowing the user to upload HD video (recorded on the device) to video sharing services,” says Matt Wilkins, Director at Strategy Analytics. “As a result we forecast global WiFi-enabled smartglasses penetration of 79 percent in 2015, at 4 million units up from 1.2 million in 2014. While Google is a driving force in Smartglasses today, we have to think Samsung and Apple are also eyeing the segment and will be potential long-term rivals.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Wireless technology is enabling owners of wearable devices, such as  Smartglasses, to both share created content as well as consume content.”

The firm’s newest report – Global Smartglasses Enabling Technologies Forecast: 2013 to 2018 – is available now.

The post WiFi 'Leading the Charge' for Smartglasses, Say Analysts appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

Deployments will continue to grow at a CAGR of 15.0% between 2013 and 2018, to exceed 10.5 million, ABI projects.

Among the global Wi-Fi hotspots, 68.6% of Wi-Fi is in Asia-Pacific, followed by 12.3% in Latin America, 9.0% in Europe, 8.7% in North America, and 1.4% in Middle East and Africa. The number includes Wi-Fi hotspots deployed by mobile and fixed-line carriers as well as third party operators.

“The mobile data growth has boosted the build-out of Wi-Fi hotspots, as it is expected that the global mobile data traffic will grow to 190,000 petabytes in 2018, from 23,000 petabytes in 2013,” explains Marina Lu, Research Analyst at ABI Research.”Wi-Fi helps to offload 3G/4G mobile Internet users to Wi-Fi networks, which is a more cost-effective method for both mobile carriers and mobile users.”

In Asia-Pacific, China alone has deployed 620,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, of which 420,000 have been built by China Mobile, followed by China Telecom with 128,000 hotspots, and China Unicom with 72,000. In Latin America, Brazil’s carrier Oi has completed its target of 500,000 Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2013, ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The post Wi-Fi Hotspots Emerging as a Means to Offload Traffic appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

“Carrier WiFi deployments are evolving to deliver the same quality of experience as mobile and fixed-line broadband service environments, and this is driving WiFi networks to become more closely integrated,” says Richard Webb, directing analyst for mobile backhaul and small cells at Infonetics Research. “Hotspot 2.0, a key tool developed by the industry to aid this drive, shows rapid adoption by carriers participating in our latest carrier WiFi survey.”

“Operators are betting pretty big on carrier WiFi, but they’re also keen to develop ways of monetizing services so that WiFi starts to pay for itself over the coming years,” Webb adds. WiFi roaming and location-based services are examples of customer plans that are growing fast.”

Other carrier wifi survey highlights include:

• Respondents have an average of around 32,000 access points currently, growing to just over 44,000 by 2015, representing 33% growth over the next year
• 40% of Infonetics’ operator respondents expect to integrate Hotspot 2.0 into more than half their access points by the end of 2015
• Among those surveyed, the top 3 monetization models for WiFi services are pre-pay, bundled with mobile broadband subscription, and tiered hotspots
• WiFi as a separate overlay network currently leads the list of technologies and architectures for offloading data traffic; meanwhile, more sophisticated carrier WiFi architectures gain gradual traction as respondents look to bring WiFi into the mobile RAN via SIM-based service models or by deploying dual-mode WiFi/small cells
• Respondents perceive Cisco and Ruckus Wireless as the top carrier WiFi manufacturers for second consecutive year

To learn more about the 2014 Carrier WiFi Strategies and Vendor Leadership: Global Service Provider Survey, click here.

The post Report: Carriers Going 'Gangbusters' with WiFi appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

The formation of their relationship is based on a mutual goal to provide Spireon’s FleetLocate-branded mobile resource management solutions to fleet operators utilizing the Sprint network.

“FleetLocate solutions enable companies to maximize productivity, improve operational efficiencies and improve the bottom line through more effective management of assets, trailers and service fleets,” Spireon said in a provided statement.

The partners insist that this collaboration provides an unparalleled combination of leading MRM technology, wireless connectivity and industry expertise that can help businesses keep tabs on their fleet vehicles and other valuable assets, improve asset usage, and reduce loss and theft.

In short, Sprint business sales teams will offer Spireon’s FleetLocate solutions.

“We are excited about the possibilities that this strategic agreement between Sprint and Spireon offers to our companies and to the marketplace,” says Mohamad Nasser, director of M2M Product, Platforms & Marketing for Sprint. “Spireon is a recognized leader in MRM, delivering powerful solutions with actionable data all wrapped in a simple package with a unique focus on helping customers realize their maximum ROI.”

The post Spireon and Sprint Team Up for Mobile Targeting appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

According to the latest research conducted by the independent London-based global research firm TechNavio, connected-device reliance is driving the growth of the Global Outdoor Wi-Fi Equipment Market.

Due to the increasing adoption of smartphones and tablets by a relatively younger and affluent generation globally, the demand for Wi-Fi access for these devices has increased considerably. Many telecom operators are now setting up network architecture that can contend with the surging demand for smartphones and tablets equally.

“Globally, the demand for Outdoor Wi-Fi Equipment Market has increased from countries located in the APAC region, with more than 38 percent of the revenue generating from this area,” the report reads. “This is because of the increasing adoption of Wi-Fi equipment in countries like Japan and South Korea, who are the leading contributors in this region.”

Based on the data presented, the Americas was the second largest contributor to the Global Outdoor Wi-Fi Equipment market, accounting for more than 37 percent in 2013, with the US and Canada being the major revenue contributors in this region.

Additionally, the EMEA region closely followed behind, accounting for more than 22 percent of the Global Outdoor Wi-Fi Equipment market in 2013, with operators focusing on the development of core mobile networks to offer 4G services.

The post Smartphone and Tablet Usage Changing The Great Outdoors appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

Mobile Network Marketing Corporation has released an industry first – a “Wi-Fi marketing powerhouse” system that promises to revolutionize conventional marketing.

There’s no shortage of bold talk and pledges in the company’s press release. But is the hype warranted?
The company says its MobiPromo System makes proximity marketing processes more effective and significantly more convenient. But how so?

“The new MobiPromo Wi-Fi marketing system adds a complete new dimension to location-based marketing and creates a dual interaction between merchants and consumers and vice-versa,” explains a spokesperson. “The technology helps create a level playing field for traditional and online merchants without inflating overheads.”

Unlike mobile marketing or direct response marketing systems, MobiPromo offers definite and clear-cut resolution to all marketing issues. It is also designed to work with almost all wireless devices, regardless of content type or interactive abilities. The amazing abilities and features of MobiPromo act as attractive incentives for consumers to use the system repeatedly.

The MobiPromo system is also designed for marketers who “don’t shy away” from using innovative techniques in marketing their products and services.

“With social media interaction, email, and text messaging integrated, merchants also benefit from the viral possibilities,” the Mobile Network Marketing Corporation said today, noting that its MobiPromo is a 100 percent cloud based platform that includes proximity marketing hardware devices that do not require any configuration or maintenance.

“It is a comprehensive Plug and Play system, which can automatically update with the advanced Set and Forget technology, once it is deployed,” the announcement reads. “Merchants keep 100% of the collected sale price.”

To learn more about the touted solution, click here.

The post Company Aims to Make Proximity Marketing More Effective appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

The details are listed in the latest edition of the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly WLAN Tracker.

Once again, the enterprise segment continued to grow at a very healthy rate and increased another 12.8% over the same period last year.

While the pace of the enterprise WLAN market growth is starting to slow moderately from the 20%-plus year-over-year increases seen several quarters ago, the enterprise WLAN market continues to be one of the fastest growing networking markets out there.

The consumer WLAN market also had an excellent quarter in 3Q13 and grew at an even faster rate than the enterprise class segment with its 14.6% year-over-year jump. The growth in the consumer WLAN space appears to be accelerating due to strong growth in the emerging markets.

“Across all verticals and geographies, the explosion of mobility with bring your own device (BYOD) continues to drive new investments in WLAN infrastructure,” says Rohit Mehra, Vice President of Network Infrastructure at IDC. “While growth has slowed from previous quarters, especially in North America, the growing mobility needs of education, retail, and healthcare, among other verticals, along with the expected rise in 802.11ac uptake will lead to continued growth in the enterprise WLAN market.”

The post Global WLAN Market Grew Further in Q3 appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

According to the results of the survey, Tier 1 Mobile Operators expect 22% of all additional data capacity added during 2013-2014 to come from Wi-Fi offload.

By 2018, Wi-Fi offload is predicted to contribute 20% of additional mobile data capacity plus a further 21% will come from small cells with integrated Wi-Fi.

This shows how important data offload is to mobile operators, accounting for an average of 20% of data traffic, up to 80% in densely populated areas such as transport hubs and cafes. Within homes and businesses offload levels are 50% to 60%.

The survey also highlighted that 51% of respondents, 56% of those being operators, are more confident about investing in Wi-Fi to supplement cellular than they had been a year earlier.

“Renewed confidence can be attributed to increased hotspot deployments and more ambitious business plans announced by some carriers, as well as the vast improvements made to Wi-Fi through enhanced roaming agreements and WBA initiatives such as Next Generation Hotspot (NGH),” the report reads.

Shrikant Shenwai, CEO of the WBA, says public Wi-Fi “is steadily maturing and is now being embraced by an ever growing number of operators. NGH brings significant improvements in terms of quality of service and ease of use, bringing a cellular experience to Wi-Fi.”

The post WBA Expects Big Growth in Wi-Fi Hotspot Market appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

The QCA4002 and QCA4004 networking platforms include the IP stack and full networking services on the chip to enable customers to add Wi-Fi to virtually any product, the company says.

The platforms feature an on-chip processor and memory, which are designed to eliminate the need for a system controller that adds to product cost, complexity and power consumption.

“Using the QCA4004, customers can now write their own applications on the Qualcomm Atheros platform instead of simply using it for Wi-Fi connectivity,” Qualcomm announced.

“Part of Qualcomm’s vision for the Internet of Everything is to provide low power, efficient connectivity as its enabling foundation. Qualcomm Atheros is making standards-based Wi-Fi feasible for a multitude of new devices in the home and office,” says Jason Zheng, senior vice president of Qualcomm Atheros. “The QCA4002 and QCA4004 platforms enable lower power usage and elimination of host processors to ensure better usage and simpler implementation with ease of configuration and interoperability, a first in the industry.”

The post Qualcomm Touts New Low-Power Wi-Fi Platform for Consumers appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.