SurfHere splashes out

Toshiba offers hotspot-in-a-box to resellers

Toshiba is to make its SurfHere hotspot-in-a-box product available to resellers through distributor Computer 2000.

Toshiba is one of a number of companies hoping to cash in on wireless. Similar offerings have come from voice and data distributor Norwood Adam and BT Indirect Channels.

Toshiba said resellers can capitalise on services including installation, maintenance and wireless deployment. Toshiba will provide training, direct links to its helpdesk and access to its web portal information resource.

The move comes in addition to Toshiba's partnerships with BT Open Zone and Vodafone, for it to gain a large footprint in the market.

"Our product takes an Ethernet cable with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line connectivity to both NTL and BT networks," said Binnett Taylor, Toshiba UK's PC department solutions and project manager.

"We have also included an integrated services digital network line for businesses to test the product. There is freephone support for end-users, too."

While the concept is still popular, take-up of the technology is slow, said Manny Pinon, marketing director at Norwood Adam. "But Toshiba's entry into this space will validate the technology," he claimed.

Richard Ashmore, chief executive of IT consultancy Newburn, said: "Hotspots are out there and understood, but the business benefits need to be clearer.

"I'm a great believer in the channel; it has all the advantages of selling Wi-Fi in large numbers and intercepting the business problems of prospects."

Toshiba's scheme is expected to result in the deployment of 10,000 hotspots across Europe by mid-2004.