US City Goes Wireless

The USA City of Bellevue has said that it is launching a wireless communications initiative that will allow city employees to connect to mission critical applications, the city intranet and email in order to complete previously paper-based office tasks from the field. The initiative is believed to be one of the most comprehensive wireless deployments in any U.S. city today. The city has already begun rolling out the solution to some of its operations and has outfitted employees with the following technology: Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs with Expansion Packs for wireless mobility and Compaq Evo notebooks with a built-in Multiport module that supports wireless technologies; wireless access provided by Sierra Wireless AirCard 300 wireless network cards and wireless services from AT&T Wireless. The solution enables end users to access email, the city intranet and select databases through Infowave's Wireless Business Engine and a suite of application connectors.

"As a hometown company, AT&T Wireless is thrilled to help the City of Bellevue best equip its employees for today's opportunities and challenges," said Geoff Fishman, AT&T Wireless General Manager in Washington. "Wireless data services will help increase productivity and effectiveness by enabling workers to be mobile but remain connected with the information and people most important to them."

The ability to communicate more effectively from the field will reduce the amount of time spent driving to city offices to enter reports into databases. In some cases, it will allow city staff to provide useful information to citizens more rapidly. Remote email also has proven to be a reliable form of communication in emergency situations and has functioned even when radio, wireline and wireless voice communications have been overwhelmed.'"

Posted to the site on 17th April 2002