GlobeQuest puts up Wi-Fi spots in Ayala Center

GlobeQuest, the voice and data arm of Innove Communications, has partnered with Ayala Center in bringing Wi-Fi or wireless fidelity to the Ayala malls, further converging work and leisure activities for the mall-going public.

Through its Wireless Internet Zone (WiZ) service, GlobeQuest has placed strategic Wi-Fi hotspots in Glorietta, Greenbelt, and Alabang Town Center, popular hang-out places in Metro Manila. The concept allows Wi-Fi users to access their office e-mail, chat, watch videos, play games, or even call using voice over the Internet protocol (VoIP) via their Wi-FI capable laptop, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and cellular phones while inside the mall.

GlobeQuest head Jesus Romero noted that shopping malls represent the next frontier for the increasingly mobile work force and for people who simply want Internet access on the go.

"We already see a number of people appearing every day in cafes and restaurants using them as a makeshift meeting and office environment. This time, we want to extend Wi-Fi access practically wherever they may be inside the mall. We are also hoping that new customers will be drawn in by the ability to check e-mail and surf the Web," he said.

Romero pointed out that this is the first time for an entire mall to enjoy Wi-Fi access. While other shopping areas such as Greenbelt 4 and Ayala Center Cebu have already installed Wi-Fi hotspots over a year ago, such are only limited to specific establishments inside the malls, he explained.

Aside from malls, most major hotels and airports in the country have installed Wi-Fi access or plan to do soon.

"For us, Wi-Fi is the technology of the future, and we want to be at the forefront. Wi-Fi is freedom, and WiZ powered by GlobeQuest, brings freedom to Ayala Center by having it connected to the Internet wirelessly," Romero said.

GlobeQuest WiZ uses a wireless technology similar to a cellphone where roaming and being connected converge.

Wi-Fi-enabled computers and PDAs send and receive data indoors and out, anywhere within the range of an access point or base transceiver. This technology is envisioned to provide business-to-business mobility, modifications, and growth.

Wi-Fi networks use tech-nologies such as 802.11b or 802.11g to provide secure and reliable wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and even to wired networks which use 802.3 dubbed as the Ethernet. Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands with an 11Mbps (802.11b) or 54Mbps (802.11g) data rate or with products that contain both bands (dual band) so they can provide similar performance equivalent to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernet networks.

GlobeQuest WiZ extends the mobility and convenience of Wi-Fi which currently can be accessed in hotspots like in Corte de las Palmas, Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cibo, Food Choices, Cable Car, BIZU, Figaro, Seattles Best Coffee, Café Havana, Café Breton, Sentro, Haiku, The Good Earth Tea Room, Recipes, Hue, Soul Food, Cascada, MYLK, The Seafood Club, Big Buddha, Bollywood, Red Box, Cinema Lobby, the Main Activity Lobby at GB3, Segafredo, Kai Neo Japanese, Una Mas, Italiannis, Magnum, National Sports Grill, The Mosaic Lounge, Digital eXchange, Gloria Jeans, eLounge, Creativity Lounge, BO’s Coffee Club, Cinema Lobby at G4 and the Glorietta Activity Center.