WI-FI:
Something in the air

Montreal’s Wi-Fi options increase, though confusion sometimes reigns

by ERIK LEIJON

Montreal is going through a Wi-Fi revolution this summer. The Eaton Centre food court is the first mall in the city to provide free Wi-Fi to anyone with a laptop, and by July the Gay Village will be one huge wireless hotspot, Internet-wise.

“Coffee shops are always packed,” says Zeina Barghout, marketing director of Eaton Centre. “Here, users can connect freely, it’s a new environment and it’s more comfortable than a Starbucks.”

The hotspot launched on March 3, and with four access points at each end of the food court, the Eaton Centre is picking up the tab for anyone who wants to use its wireless network. At least for now, hotspot provider Eye-In is foregoing the usual sign-up process, so users can connect without a username or password.

Gay and wired

Just in time for the Outgames, which will be held from July 26 to August 5, a one-kilometre stretch of the Gay Village will convert into a wireless hotspot for travellers and locals alike. The plans are to cover 90 restaurants, cafés, hotels and retail stores, with individual businesses footing the Internet bills and the Société de développement commerciale du village paying for the equipment.

“They called us a month ago, for the Outgames period, but it will be a permanent installation,” says Richard Lussier, administrator in charge of special projects for Île Sans Fil, the community group responsible for providing wireless access. He says the project is the organization’s biggest one yet: installation will require 17 antennas and 30 routers.

Founded three years ago, Île Sans Fil has over 85 hotspots, the most of any group in Montreal. They are a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to install the equipment and businesses to pay for installation. They have also brought wireless Internet to parts of St-Laurent Boulevard, including Zeke’s Gallery and Laïka, as well as bars like Foufounes Électriques (Ste-Catherine), Café Chaos (St-Denis) and Boodha Bar (Mackay).

Caffeine connections

While these connections are free, most aren’t, and since companies like Tadaa, Eye-In, Telus, Rogers and others are after a piece of the pie, frequenting multiple coffee shops means signing up to more than one company.

Second Cup has an exclusive deal with Rogers; Java U uses Experience; Café Depot, Presse Café, Van Houtte and Couche-Tard are with Eye-In. Café Supreme restaurants have different providers depending on location, and many individual cafés use Île Sans Fil and Tadaa. Typically, coffee shops sell pre-paid cards to use Wi-Fi in their shops.

This all spells confusion for wireless users without a favourite coffee shop. “There is a need to combine forces,” says Joe Verdecampo, director of business development at Tadaa Wireless Solutions. “You want to create a type of user/password that people can use wherever they go.”

Roaming agreements between companies are already happening in the United States and Canada, says Eye-In VP of sales and marketing Nathalie Azoulay. “The company that grows the most will force the hand of the others,” she says.

Station to station

Another problem is that many Montrealers can’t afford a laptop or a wireless adapter. Eye-In and participating Van Houtte coffee shops have a potential solution: computer stations installed for those who don’t mind paying $2.99 for 30 minutes of Internet but don’t have a laptop. It was designed to be as simple as possible, says Azoulay. “Anyone can walk in and use the computers. We wanted users to not be intimidated by the internet stations.”

Companies are not just fighting over coffee shops, as there is also a growing need for Wi-Fi in upscale restaurants like Vargas and the Rib N’ Reef, who now provide access.

Wi-Fi on the metro is also a possibility, though not for the foreseeable future. The STM is currently looking into it, and have been approached by a few companies, says Carl Desrosiers, the executive director of the metro network.

“We are replacing the old cars on the green line. We will listen to offers and study the opportunity for Wi-Fi,” Desrosiers says, noting that the Berri-UQÀM station currently has wireless internet for employees.