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I’ve been having a great time lately running around with my new wireless-enabled notebook computer, checking out various Wi-Fi hotspots in the Portland and the Seattle area. My machine uses the new Centrino technology with its Pentium M processor, wireless chipset and network card developed specifically to seamlessly connect users to wireless networks and the Internet. It is very convenient to not need a phone line or cable to get online in public areas such as cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries, airports, downtown business districts, malls, retail stores or hotels that provide access to a wireless network. The popularity of this type of connectivity is hard to overlook. Intel projects that there will be 10,000 such locations in the U.S. by the end of the year. According to an emerging wireless research firm, by 2009 there will be more than 700,000 hotspots worldwide. Although many of the public hotspots are run by companies such as T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless who charge connection fees, it is not too difficult to locate Wi-Fi locations that offer free wireless Internet access in most major cities by looking them up in the Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory http://www.wififreespot.com. You can also find all hotspot locations in many countries from JiWire’s directory http://www.jiwire.com. The listing tells how much it costs to connect, or if it is free.

Wi-Fi technology, based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, still needs much improvement in standardizing various security methods, which are a concern to many users. These improvements will come in time because they are driven by demand, but in the meanwhile, users can either expect to pay for certain secure connection, or to just use precaution in not storing sensitive information on the computer they use to connect wirelessly. Wireless hotspots will also become increasingly available in outdoor public areas. “Mesh networking” is a newly developing technology which deploys large outdoor networks using special wireless mesh routers and 802-11-compliant radios to “unwire” the Ethernet infrastructure.

To recap a recent theme I have presented in this eNewsletter, the nation’s leading trade association for the U.S. high-tech industry, the Electronic industries Alliance (EIA), has just unveiled an interesting document, “The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads.” It is an attempt to draw back media and politician’s attention from the now overdone issue of worldwide sourcing to what it calls two more critical issues – the future of high-tech innovation in the U.S. and the new threat posed by ‘innovation nations’ China and India. Information for obtaining this free document is available in its article below.

I am grateful to be in a collaborative business with many talented and skilled professionals. Additional feedback and recommendations for our products and services at TM Information Services http://www.tminformationservices.com are always welcome.

- Mary M. McLaughlin

In this Issue:
• From the Front Page of TMIS News
• From Thunder Mountain the On-Line Store
• From the TMIS Full Stock Site
• Whitebook Configurator
• Centerpoint Graphics Premier Printer of the Northwest

From the Front Page of TMIS News <Top>
http://www.tminformationservices.com
Click on links below to read Full Stories

Global Hotspots to Generate More Than $11 Billion in 2009
San Diego, California

There will be more than 700,000 hotspots worldwide by 2009 and these will generate $11.4 billion in both subscriber and hotspot driven venue oriented revenues at this time, according to recent research by emerging wireless research firm, ON World Inc. While hotspot deployments are accelerating worldwide, there are key differences among geographical regions.
Full Story

Outdoor Wireless Mesh Router to Enable Instant Networks in All Environments
Los Gatos, California

Firetide, a leader in mesh networking for quickly, easily and affordably deploying large wireless networks, has announced the HotPoint 1000R wireless mesh router designed for outdoor network deployments. The HotPoint 1000R is based on Firetide's mesh networking technology which uses advanced routing technologies and IEEE 802.11-compliant radios to "unwire" the Ethernet infrastructure. Firetide's HotPoint(TM) Wireless Mesh Routers replace Ethernet cabling and form a Wireless Instant Network(TM), which eliminates costly and time-consuming provisioning and creates a self-configuring, self-healing mesh network. Firetide networks scale and self-configure instantly by simply plugging HotPoint routers into standard AC power outlets, providing a simple and reliable alternative to standard Ethernet cable.
Full Story

Open Park Project Launches Free Wi-Fi Service on Capitol Hill
Washington D.C.

The Open Park Project, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit, launched the first public outdoor wireless Internet hotspot in the nation's capital in May. The free service provides coverage in front of the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the Capitol Visitors' Center site. The Capitol Hill hotspot is the initial step in Open Park's plan to provide free public wireless Internet service across the National Mall. Open Park is using the popular Wi-Fi technology employed in home networks and coffee shops. The group's free hotspot "will give the public outside the Capitol the same quick Internet access for research, email and news that their representatives enjoy inside their offices," said Open Park's co-founder, Greg Staple, a Washington communications lawyer. "It's a hotspot for democracy," said Staple.
Full Story

Creating a National Technology Strategy: EIA to Present Policy Playbook Addressing the Future of the U.S. High-Tech Innovation Economy
Arlington, Virginia

The issue of worldwide sourcing has become a major topic in the media and on the campaign trail in 2004, but two other issues need even more attention and action from policymakers: 1) the future of innovation in the U.S. and 2) global competitiveness for the U.S. high-tech industry in the face of new economic rivalries from potential 'innovation nations' such as China and India. What is the future of innovation in the U.S.? What investments are necessary if the U.S. is to improve its innovation infrastructure by developing and implementing a national technology strategy?
Full Story

Largest Computer Products & Services Firms Ranked on How They Treat Online Customers in Spring 2004 Online Customer Respect Study
Bellevue, Washington

Results Mixed: One-Third Don't Respond to Inquiries; Almost One-Third Share Personal Data With Third Parties Without Permission
The Customer Respect Group, an international research and consulting firm that focuses on how corporations treat their customers online, today released the results of its Spring 2004 Online Customer Respect Study of 61 computer products and services firms that rank among the countries largest 1000 companies. Overall, Hewlett-Packard and Science Applications International scored highest, while Brightpoint scored lowest.
Full Story

Reports of Email Fraud and Phishing Attacks Increase by 180%
Redwood City, California

Tumbleweed Communications Corp. and the Anti-Phishing Working Group today released the "Phishing Attack Trends Report" for April 2004, an analysis of phishing scam attacks submitted to www.antiphishing.org, the Internet's most comprehensive archive of email fraud and phishing attacks. This analysis identifies that email fraud and phishing attacks grew by more than 180% in April, with an average of almost 38 new, unique attacks sent out to millions of consumers each day. Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent websites to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers, ISPs and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them. The result of these scams is that consumers suffer credit card fraud, identity theft, and financial loss.
Full Story

From Thunder Mountain the On-Line Store <Top>
http://www.thundermount.com

Canon I70 Portable Bubble Jet Color Printer	Centrino Pentium M Whitebook Poly Case	Nikon CoolPix 5700

D-Link 802.11b Wireless Broadband w/AP	Centrino Pentium M Whitebook Mag Case	Simply Portable Top Loader Laptop Computer Case

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