公眾無線區域網路服務之研究

Abstract

自1997年IEEE確立802.11為無線區域網路標準之後，產業大幅成長。近年來，無線區域網路技術逐漸成熟、產品價格大幅降低，因此無線區域網路的應用也開始蓬勃發展。 台灣業者目前積極投入此產業，包括設備製造商、系統整合商及服務業者等。本研究即針對公眾無線區域網路服務市場進行研究，並以美國第一家提供公眾無線區域網路服務之業者—MobileStar進行研究。MobileStar於公眾場所提供無線寬頻上網服務，亦與全美第一大連鎖咖啡館Starbucks合作，成為全美第一大無線寬頻上網服務提供者，可是卻於2001年10月陷入營運困境。 由於目前台灣公眾無線區域網路服務市場正處於發展初期，因此本研究欲透過探討MobileStar失敗之因，對台灣業者提出以下建議：1.儘速建立跨業者漫遊機制；2.無線寬頻上網服務提供者與公眾場所業主共同分攤佈點成本；3.確保無線區域網路資料傳輸安全；4.運用行銷活動刺激消費者需求，並建立消費者使用習慣；5.建立計費系統

In 1997, IEEE 802.11 became a world accepted wireless LAN standard. A compatibility verification organization Wi-Fi gives certification to all 802.11 products that are compatible. As 802.11 product technologies improve continuously, prices also fall constantly. This leads to popularity of WLAN hence demand surges for WLAN products & services. In Taiwan, many companies invested in 802.11 products and services including：equipment manufacturers, system integrators, and service providers. This research investigated the public WLAN market and business models. The U.S. No. 1 public wireless LAN service provider – MobileStar was analyzed as a case study. It formed alliance with the U.S. No. 1 coffee shop chain stores – Starbucks. Unfortunately, MobileStar bankrupted in Oct. 2001. What lesson can Taiwan’s WLAN service providers learn from this dramatic case? The following are recommendations to Taiwan’s WLAN service providers:1.Negotiate cross-service territory roaming agreements with other service owners；2.WLAN equipment vendors and hot-spot owners share cost of public WLAN service；3.Improve the security of information transmission in WLAN environment；4.Be patient to foster consumers’ behave of accessing Internet out of office or home；5.Affordable rate and accurate billing system.