Lucent looks to provide mobile Wi-Fi for trains, autos, buses

Computerworld - Lucent Technologies Inc. is working to develop a product that would provide users with wireless Internet access on trains, buses and automobiles.
Murray Hill, N.J.-based Lucent is working with In Motion Technology in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Top Global in Beijing to develop a product that links third-generation (3G) mobile networks and Wi-Fi technologies, according to Lucent spokesman Ichiro Kawasaki.
Called Wi-Fi on the Move, the product would augment Lucent's evolution data optimized (EV-DO) 3G wireless technology, which provides high-speed capabilities of about 300K to 500K bit/sec., Kawasaki said.
Kawasaki said the product would use EV-DO networks to provide backhaul for Wi-Fi access points.
Lucent just received $525 million from Verizon Wireless to deploy its EV-DO network in major cities in the U.S., Kawasaki said.
"The idea behind Wi-Fi on the Move is to take advantage of the large base of Wi-Fi devices out there and provide them with Wi-Fi access where they might not otherwise have it, like on trains and buses, where it might be difficult to run a DSL or cable connection to provide the Wi-Fi access," Kawasaki said.
"So anywhere your cell phone would work, this technology would work as well."

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