Communications hardware vendor, Netcomm (ASX:NTC) has been appointed by the national Golden Chain Motel Group as its preferred technology supplier for wireless hotspots.

Golden Chain is an Australian motel chain with more than 300 locations around the country. Members had investigated the installation of a broadband network to provide Internet access for their customers but the available technologies were cost prohibitive and would have entailed running wires throughout the properties. 

“When we heard about the HotSpot Wireless product, another director and myself decided we’d install it in our own motels at our own cost and conduct a trial of the solution,” said John Priestley, chairman of the Golden Chain Motel Group.

“HotSpot has been operating in our two motels – the Horsham Mid City Motel and the Lamplighter Motel in Oakleigh – for six months. The price is right, it’s reliable, and it works.”

Priestley says that since installing the NetComm Hotspot at his property, the Horsham Mid City Motel, guests have been pleasantly surprised at the availability of the technology. “We have received extremely positive comments from them,” he said.  “Business people have walked in and, when they open their wireless notebooks, can immediately see we have a connection. One in particular, a relieving solicitor to the local court, said it was ‘sensational’ and thought we should have it available everywhere through our Golden Chain network of motels.”

According to the motel group, the Wireless Hotspots are also a new source of revenue for the motels, and they free up the properties’ telephone lines. This avoids the issue of guests using dial-up connections via the motel PABX to access the Internet, and interfering with the property’s ability to make and receive business voice calls.