If you are lucky enough to live in southeast Queensland, you might be able to email your boss right from the commuter train—just make sure you don’t tell her how you really feel about your annual review. New wireless equipment is being installed to allow security footage to be streamed to the train’s headquarters in Brisbane, and commuters are going to get the WiFi runoff. Hopefully, American politicians have an idea like this in mind when they start to finalize those new high-speed trains. ]]>
Americans may have WiFi-equipped buses and planes, but the Japanese are still leading the way when it comes to futuristic train travel: Soon you'll be able to log on at broadband speed while screaming between Tokyo and Osaka at 168 mph.
Starting in March, telecom giant NTT Communications will provide its HotSpot service--already in effect at Japanese airports, restaurants and hotels--on certain Shinkansen by stringing wires alongside the tracks. Those coax cables will then beam the internet inside 700-series bullet trains. WiFi will also be added to 17 stations along the Tokaido line.
Day passes will cost $6 while a monthly subscription to HotSpot is $19 at current exchange rates.
Related Stories:
· Wi-Fi Coming to Japan's Bullet Trains Next Year [PC World]
· NTT HotSpot [Official Site]
· WiFi coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Wikimedia]]]>
