InformationTechnology: A new "Invisible Access" telecommunications system just installed in Custom House Harbour in Dublin's IFSC will eliminate the need for apartments there to have landlines.
So says Allan Brennan, founder of Wireless Projects, which he is promoting as Ireland's first certified wireless network provider.
The Invisible Access system works off a 54 Mbps wireless network with an integrated 4Mbps broadband connection. At Custom House Harbour, the initial set-up costs are from €399 per apartment with an ongoing annual charge of €119.79.
Mr Brennan claims the main benefits of the service are no landline charges, free phone calls and video conferencing, hi-speed Internet access and much faster downloading and uploading times for PCs than with ordinary landlines.
"With this system," he says, "you can call a landline number almost anywhere in the world apart from Ireland. All you need is a wireless adaptor for your PC and a special 'earth phone', like a black mobile phone, that connects into the back of your PC. Thereafter, apart from the annual fee, you can surf the net, call your friends and download to your heart's content for free."
Advanced wireless technology is a major growth area in the IT and communications industries at the moment.
It is beginning to emerge as a rival to the traditional telecommunications companies and competition between the two should start to have an effect for consumers over the coming years.
Most users of advanced wireless technology tend to have large disposable incomes and are prolific users of mobiles, laptops and the Internet.
Mr Brennan says that, ideally, the Invisible Access system should be installed during the build stage but that retro-fits are "very easy. This system does not involve much disruption during installation. We would not be pulling up carpets and making holes in walls. The fit depends on the size of a building. With a bigger building we might need a bit of cabbling but this would go in the common areas."
Of the 333 apartments in Custom House Harbour, around 10 per cent have signed up for the service.
The installation of the service started in August 2003 and was complete by November.
Mr Brennan believes the wireless access system now installed at Custom House Harbour is a little before its time.
"We might be the first to offer this service in Ireland, but I expect a lot of competition in this area in the not-too-distant future."
Invisible Access is being officially launched tomorrow in the IFSC. It has obvious potential to improve the rental prospects of apartment blocks at the higher end of the city centre rental market.
