Working Anywhere

Part Three - Tips, Tricks, Devices and Services That Make Staying Connected Easier

In parts one and two I've discussed mobile calling services and tactics to keep the costs of International Roaming down as well as the devices and methods to keep your data rates down.

For transparency sake-My agency represents FreeTalk and parent company ISS which manages the Skype Shop. Some of the products mentioned below are available via Skype Shop.

Now it's time to focus on other devices that make staying connected easier while you're on the go:

A Respite from the Noise- Global Office Access Card

There are two ways to get away from the noise and being in a very public place when traveling. Either hide out in your hotel room, or find a place you can work that's got all the comforts of an office, or an airport airline club lounge. But joining every airline club is both expensive and unnecessary. I've been using Priority Pass for the past five years and have found that even one visit a year somewhere pays for it in value. While the lounges in all countries are not the same, their network includes both airline clubs and local business lounges in major airports around the globe, and they usually have access to more than one in each airport. Another way into some lounges is with the American Express Platinum Card. Just recently AMEX added US Air Lounges, but with the airline also selling day passes, and excluding their Envoy Lounge in Philadelphia, but since no US Air flights ticket is required, it's even more meaningful than the flight ticket required access to Admirals Clubs from American Airlines or the Delta Crown Room that as a result of the mergers between Delta and Northwest are now accessible, along with Continental's Presidents Clubs.

Away from the airport nothing beats a Regus Businessworld Membership. With over 1000 locations around the globe, the $15 a month Gold Card gets you into any of their centers. While each center is very different, and has different rules and hours, I've used these in every country I've visited the last four years and would never leave home without one. With my Platinum membership I also have access to ten days a month of day offices, meaning I have the luxury of a door, a phone and administrative help all around the globe. Plus, with their RegusNet Internet Service, you'll be assured of amazing bandwidth, versus having to share the Internet at some coffee shop or cafe.

Travel Routers

Without a doubt, the travel router is a necessity if you are in a hotel, or meeting room, that doesn't have WiFi, or where they want to charge you per device connection. My favorite travel router is the Apple Airport Express that works all the way up through the 802.11 N standard. A second choice would be the Asus Wireless Travel Router followed by products from D-Link, Netgear and even Cisco.

Headsets and Microphones

I'm biased, as we represent FREETALK, and I serve as Head of Marketing for the company, but without a doubt the FreeTalk like of Skype compatible headsets is without a doubt the best value for money line on the market today. Between the Everyman Wired and new Wireless versions, as well as the FreeTalk Wireless Headset, these offer Skype's SuperWideband Codec, SILK, embedded into the headsets Digital Signaling Processor, meaning, the compression and decompression of SILK is handled by the headset, not your PC.

SpeakerPhones for Those On The Go

I remain a fan of the Polycom Communicator, the Skype and PC Speakerphone, but lately Polycom has been lagging in keeping the product updated. For example, they haven't updated the drivers for Windows 7, and when I've reached out to their folks who previously asked me for input on the product, they've gone silent. That's usually a sign that the product is being mothballed which is a shame, because the form factor, Skype integration and audio sensitivity, as well as price made it a very good value. It's one drawback is the lack of SILK integration into the device, something the more expensive, but very sleek Yamaha Speakerphone has adopted. While pricier, the Yamaha delivers more than the Polycom, as it doubles as a stereo speaker system. Lastly, the Clear One Chat 60 deserves a serious look. Like the Polycom and Yamaha it is also Skype Certified, and it's slim design, and low profile look makes it a easy tuck in to your travel bag.

Power Outlets and Surge Protectors

Nothing beats the MonsterCable Outlets to Go Six Outlet power strip. The reason is unlike some of the traveling surge protectors, this is not surge protection, which means you won't be turning out the lights in Europe or Asia with it. Take this along, add on a local country plug converter and you're now using your USA power plugs. Monster also makes a more petite four outlet version.

A second must have is an IDAPT if you carry more than one "portable device." Personally, I've used two of these, one at home and one in my carry bag, and between avoiding cable tangle, the iDapt offers a neat way to keep everything organized. Their newest product, the i4 will also make it easy to charge the iPad. Given the success of the i3, I'll be adding that to my carry on collection of essentials.

Don't Be Cheap

It's one thing to be frugal, and it is another thing to be cheap. Too many companies like to impose travel policies on employees and vendors that seem to make good fiscal sense, but waking up in a hotel that has lousy Internet connectivity, poor plumbing, or guests who party all night long really doesn't pay off when you have that important meeting the next day and just need to be at your best. Joining hotel loyalty programs is the first step but being property loyal in cities your regularly frequent wins hands down. Over the past few years San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Barcelona, Madrid, Seattle, Paris and London have become almost regular stops at least three or more times a year. As a result I've found that paying a negotiated business or industry rate, vs. a deep discounted rate usually results in a better stay and more perks. I've also become accustomed to a "welcome home" type of arrival, more than being just another nameless and faceless guest. As someone who has spent over 300 days on the road in 2008, and 275 days on the road in 2009 with a similar pace this year looming it seems, having those personal relationships, and paying a fair price each time has gotten me more upgrades, perks and benefits than any loyalty program ever would have. For example, at the amazing San Francisco Intercontinental, which is just down the street from Moscone Center I have my own personal bathrobe that's always hanging in my room (as does my wife.) We're greeted by the impeccable staff and almost always have a drink with the master of polite efficiency, hotel GM par excellance, Peter Koehler. The long time San Francisco hotelier is perhaps the finest GM on the planet. His encyclopedia like mind keeps track of guests likes and needs, while his guest relations manager Shehani and her team in the sixth floor lounge (Luis, Regina and Bridgette) find a way to make every stay just a bit more pleasant.

Up in Seattle, the technowonderful Hotel 1000 with 100 megs of XO powered Internet speeds, elevators that arrive when you walk up to them, non-intrusive housekeeping staff that know when your in and out of your room, plus a dynamite bar/lounge and restaurant (BOKA) makes this my first choice in Seattle each trip.

Over in London and in New York City it's the new Hyatt Andaz properties. In London, they've learned I don't like the rooms without a stall shower, and need enough elbow room to shave. The grade A property there, converted by Terry Conran from a 1800's hospital into a 21st century hotel has no charge internet, but single sign on throughout the hotel and the public areas. In New York, the hotels internet sometimes though needs a boost, as the Nomadix gateway seems to be limiting in speeds. In Philadelphia the Sofitel wins hands down. The recent addition of more power outlets in every room, and the double paned windows makes it a can't be beat work and rest location, especially when you add in T-Mobile's rock solid WiFi hotspot coverage and wired outlets in every room. In Barcelona my two hotels of choice are Casa Camper and the Pullman Skipper while in Paris its Mama Shelter or the Pullman Bercy where I have stayed now for ten years and through at least three renovations and upgrades. All have great Internet connectivity, but more importantly provide the kind of vibe, and offer the kind of service that a business traveler in need of a bit of TLC can always expect.

At the root of all this is both convenience and the willingness to spend a little more, but save yourself from hours of inconvenience and hassles. Life on the road doesn't have to always be tough, but it's not all lights and glitter. After you experience a few later than expected arrivals or an early check in hope following a red eye, you begin to understand why having a hotel that feels like home and your own productivity amenities along with you, makes it all seem just a little bit better.

Part Two-Staying Connected and Online When Traveling

Let's face it, we live in a world where data and online services are in many ways becoming as important as voice. But voice still remains important. While I've been able to take the pain out of mobile roaming with Truphone Local Anywhere and softclients from Skype, Counterpath and yes, the GizmoVoice/Google Voice client that wasn't ever released to the masses, as well as similar softphones on my smartphones, we still need other ways to stay in touch without breaking the bank.

Phone Numbers in Other Countries.

Client Voxbone is one of the largest, if not the largest suppliers of DIDs around the globe and many of the leading Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs) rely on them for local in country numbers. For years I've had numbers that have come from their numbering pools via ITSPs that allows me to have an "in country presence" without being there. What I've been doing is routing those DID through my Gizmo account which is SIP based meaning every call in the countries I frequent have been local calls to it, and then cross it over to Google Voice at no charge, I've then returned my calls from there that landed in the GrandCentral/Google Voice mailbox, all at the expense of Google. This is not that hard to do, but until GoogleVoice opens up their SIP ID's without an existing GizmoVoice account, you're out of luck. But, what you can do is buy in country DIDs from an ITSP (I prefer CallCentric) and buy a series of numbers that go to the people you regularly call and make local calls to them. This is great and only suggested if you are in a country regularly and make a lot of calls to the same number, like your company's main switchboard or as a way into your company's PBX. Not far off from this concept is Skype To Go. Skype to go lets you designate a phone number and have it call a series of dedicated destinations and Skype buddies by dialing a local number.

WiFi Access While Standing Still

WiFi remains perhaps the most efficient way of staying online, if you know what you're doing. First tool in the WiFi tool kit is Boingo. Yes, they are a client, but I've been a Boingo user and fan since almost the day they started and I've been paying for accounts even while they're a client because I believe so much in what they provide to the global nomad and road warrior crowd. As the world's largest roaming network of WiFi hotspots no other provider comes close at being the Swiss Army Knife of connectctivty. Let me first outline how I use Boingo and then go through other WiFi options:

On my laptops I use the Boingo client to log on at most of the Boingo hotspot locations. In their 58 airport locations that they own and operate their software makes logging on a snap. Now, here's a key tip. Not all Boingo roaming locations work with the Boingo Client. By roaming, I am referring to hotspots deployed and managed by other operators. But, logging on at those locations is no harder than navigating through the sign-on pages and finding the roaming pull down tab, and then selecting Boingo. From their the walled garden sign on system they deploy to their roaming partners asks for your username and password and off you go. This is normal for me to have to do in Orly Airport in Paris and at Barcelona and Madrid International Airports. As an international traveler I pay for the higher priced Boingo Global plan. Yes, it's more expensive compared to their $9.95 Boingo Unlimited Plan that is valid in the Americas only but if I used the maximum number of minutes (2000 in a month) in say Europe without it, my costs would be $360.00. Game over, as the savings is $300.00 a month. Since I make at least four trips a year to Europe (usually five or six the last few years) the $59.95 a month plan at $720 a year is still a savings over hotel access charges where in some hotels is 25 euros a day. That means the cost of a two day hotel stay's WiFi access has paid for my connectivity for an entire month. Since I stay in hotels more than 24 nights a year in places that have those kind of rates, Boingo is easily at break even or in my case, a far better deal when you add in airport, cafe and hotel locations as Boingo makes it easy and so cost efficient.

On my mobile phones, iPod and iPad I make extensive use of three Boingo accounts I have that are Boingo Mobile which at $7.95 a month is a no-brainer if you are a mobile data or mobile VoIP user. Like on my Mac I use the Boingo Mobile Client to jump on Boingo hotspots. On my Nokia N-95, E71 and N810 (yes I have one of those and still think it was the best palmtop ever made) I can surf the web, read and reply to email and use the auto connect feature of the Boingo client to latch on and both place and receive Truphone calls using the Truphone application on the N-95 and E-71 or my choice of ISTP or Skype on the N810. The luxury of using Boingo Mobile on the Nokia phones is the auto-log on feature of the Boingo account that is resident and operational, as long as you have WiFi scanning turned on. This means that calls to me that are routed via my USA Truphone application number, or calls made via Truphone on the Nokias are part of my Truphone Unlimited Plan.

FON-I've not been a fan of FON that much as many readers know, but on my last trip to Paris I became a convert. The model is the cooperative or communal model of connectivity. If you're a FON hotspot operator you can get on any FON hotspot for free. If not, you simply pay. And paying is as easy as sending an SMS if you have a local country mobile phone, even one that's pre-paid, and you have enough credit. If you're spending time in cities or areas where FON has a heavy presence buying the low cost router and leaving it turned on back home isn't a bad idea. With hotspots located in the UK, France and Spain in quantity and roaming relationships with the likes of BT, if you're willing to share your home broadband with others, buying a FON isn't a bad way to go.

T-Mobile Hotspot-I've had an account since this service launched, and while its value has been reduced by their pulling back in the USA, there are still plenty of places where I find their locations, some of which are not roaming partner capable yet. Dollar for dollar, their hotspots in the USA are the best around, and like Boingo, as a member of the Broadband Wireless Alliance, they too provide roaming in places that sometimes Boingo doesn't. For that reason, I look at the two services as complimentary, but over time I can see this service being dropped as Boingo has not in anyway, shape or form stopped growing, but T-Mobile has.

Hotel WiFi-the odds of having great connectivity in hotels is as predictable as the weather in London or Seattle on any given day or day-part. You just never know. I've become less and less enamored with it in most "business" hotels and have begun staying in the more boutique like properties found in Tablet Hotels. For example, the Hotel 1000 in Seattle did the smart thing and brought in XO Communications and added a 100 meg fiber drop to their property. My stays there have proven that building out connectivity the right way makes for a happy guest. Other hotels like the Andaz in London have amazing connectivity provided by InterTouch, a DoCoMo company, as do most, if not all of the Sofitel's around France and my favorite Parisian hideout, MamaShelter. I give up the convenience and high price of being in downtown Paris for the amazing bandwidth, funky and hip surroundings of the Philip Stark designed hideaway up in Paris's 20th. With great food and drinks in the restaurant, thin crust pizza from their own pizzaria and the rock solid 5 megs per room connectivity, I'm hooked up and happy in Paris.

WiFi Access On The Go

Let's face it, we're part of a mobile society, and WiFi access to 3G has become a reality. Sure you can tether your iPhone, Android or Nokia phones very easily now either natively or with an application like JoikuSpot. As long as you're already paying for 3G data on your mobile phone tethering is a great way to go for light use of your laptop. But if you're going to be spending lots of time on the go, then a PocketSpot and a 3G/4G plan is a great investment.

Here in the USA in markets where Clearwire is operating, no one beats their 4G speeds. Over the past few weeks I've used my Sprint Overdrive in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Franklin, TN on Clearwire's 4G network and have been more than pleased with the connectivity, low to no latency and ease of connectivity. If there is one drawback, it's battery life on the Overdrive. I'm also not overwhelmed by Sprint's speeds as their consistency is lacking from market to market on 3G. There either a MiFi from Verizon or AT&T comes in handy. Since I'm a global nomad, the unlocked Novatel Wireless MiFi USA edition or the global version which I use.

3G Data Dongles/USB Sticks

I've been using a combination of data dongles since they first were invented. Driver issues, Mac compatibility problems (that still seem to pop up now and then) have always been a concern, but they do work. But with Pocketspots the need for them is waining as why only connect one device when you can connect more. What does make sense though is to buy the dongles in countries you are going to be traveling in, with a PrePaid SIM card, add the credit you think you'll need and then pop the SIM into the Novatel MiFi 2352. You will need to know the settings, but those are easily found on the PrePaid Data Wiki.

iPhones and iPads

Let's face it, the more you use the iPhone the more you become hooked on the apps. When it comes to the iPad, I'm even more hooked. If you have a 3G iPad they are sold unlocked, but getting a SIM that works with the iPad on a pre-paid basis in some countries isn't always easy. I've succeeded in the UK with 02 as the carrier, but the rest of the UK providers have very strict rules on selling SIMs only to in-country residents. The same seems to apply across the EU, but I expect that to change as the iPad becomes more widely available and the Micro SIM's do too. (note Cubic Telecom does sell a roaming micro SIM)

Staying connected isn't hard when you're on the go. It just takes some planning.

Best and Worst of Hotel WiFi

I can't say I disagree at all with Hotel Chatter's annual Hotel WiFi's Best & Worst Report at all. My favorite hotel chain, the upscale Hyatt ANDAZ is number one. I've been staying in the London Andaz practically every three months or so for the past two years and have spent many a memorable number of days there. One of the reasons is the fantastic WiFi. Same in NYC where the Andaz just opened in the Wall Street area. They use a service called interTouch, which is owned and operated by DocomoNTT out of Japan. Yup, the same folks who used to be in partnership with AT&T in the Mobile phone world many years ago.

If you notice, the major hotel groups, Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton didn't fare very well. That's because for the most part they have farmed out their WiFi to a few companies that work with the in-room entertainment suppliers and are running connectivity the most cost efficient way possible, vs. actually sitting down and figuring out how to do it right. Additionally, the capacity needed for quality WiFi, and quality Internet connectivity keeps going up, as more guests and more meeting attendees usage rises. Ten years or so the average hotel saw no more than ten percent usage per night based on the number of registered guests, so a T1 was likely more than enough. Now, that usage is north of 60 percent, and in markets like NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Seattle more than likely closer to 80 percent.

Hotels, even with 20 megs of connectivity are suffering from being underpowered, and also challenged by improperly positioned WiFi access points, as well as the growing number of P2P (peer to peer) clients running on guests computers. More and more guests are also downloading music and videos using Apple's iTunes, the BBC's iPlayer and of course a few other apps for services we won't mention.

So it's more than just the WiFi, its also the size of the pipe that matters. Oh. that fits in what we won't mention.......

Well anyway, it's great to see someone is keeping score. I for one have demanded better connectivity in hotels. I treat Internet access and WiFi like hot water. If you don't have hot water, the stay is usually free. Well the same goes for me if I don't have solid access and fast speeds of at least half a meg in both directions. You have a choice in where you stay. Stay where you can have hassle a free Internet life.

Google StreetView Goes Inside

A few weeks ago at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, CA I spied the Google StreetView team taking photos outside of the hotel while I was waiting for a colleague.

Then a few minutes later the photo crew was wandering inside the lobby with tripod and cameras taking photos of INSIDE the hotel.

Is this something that's due up next for StreetView? Or is Google about to debut, what I'm calling InsideView? How will that be for you?

Swisscom Rolls Out WiFi Voice Calling In Hotels

I've personally experienced Swisscom powered hotels in Barcelona, Paris and even in the USA for the initial eComm event and two years of Office 2.0 in San Francisco, and can without fear express how well their technology deployments of WiFi will work in a hotel setting.

Well now they've rolled out WiFi calling at their hotels in Europe. And they use the same types of smartphones as Truphone plus a few others. While they haven't disclosed who developed their softclient, judging by the line up, it's Mailvision out of Israel.

Basically, you bring your own device and they provide information on how to install an application that works with their networks.

The Importance of Proper Audio Accessories in VoIP

Pal Alec Saunders has written a very complete review of the Yamaha Sound Gadget which is available on the Skype Store for $199.00 here in the USA and is available around the globe.

The reason I bring this up, is that now more than ever, the expression of GIGO-Garbage In, Garbage Out, could never be more apropos. Using inferior headsets, video cameras and speakerphones makes for a lousy sounding/viewing experience on the other end. This is no different than using one of the so called "free conference" calling services vs. client HiDefConferencing where after one call, you clearly hear the difference as fellow disruptor, Pat Phelan, pointed out some time ago.

For some time I've been a heavy user of the Polycom Comunicator, a device that is always in my travel bag and which allows my Mac to sound like it's a full size Polycom Starfish like speakerphone. Like the PolyCom, the Yamaha Soundgadget is a delight to carry, and I've turned it, along with any one of a series of my Mid and Netbooks, like the Viliv X70, Viliv S7 or my Asus EEE PC's such as the 1008 HA, into a complete traveling communications hub. The Viliv's give incredible video and when connected to the Verizon MiFi (or even the unlocked one I use that works on GSM) I can pretty much hold a conference call anywhere, even where WiFi isn't in full sound. The lightness of both devices, which pal Jim Courtney points out, is a key, so now, in a very small shoulder bag, I'm carrying all I need to be in business from virtually anywhere.

Personally, I've become a heavy user of two headsets. From client Freetalk, the Everyman headset may be the best value around. Priced at less than $23.00, the headset embeds inline a DSP (digital signal processor) that also has the Skype codec embedded inside. No other headset for the price sounds as good-it's so good it passes the Rutkowski Test when we record the World Technology Roundup together for KenRadio. That and the very stylish, and $200 dollar Bang & Olufsen Ear Set 3, a combination headset and microphone that works with Macs as well as the iPod Touch and iPhone are my voice input/output accessories of choice. I use the B&O Ear Set with my iPod touch and either client Truphone's iPod touch or iPhone app, as well as with Skype on both. Sound is clear and as others tell me, just like a mobile phone. For the untethered crowd the FreeTalk Wireless Stereo Headset is another headset that's great to use as it's range is far better than the usual Bluetooth headset.

So here's the net net on audio from where I sit:

Fast and Sleek-The Bang & Olufsen Ear Set is what you will want for XMas. The sacrifice for Skype users is the lack of SILK grade processing, but it works on the iPhone/iPod and your Mac (PC users, most PC's require separate input and outputs so the headset/mic combo is of less value)

Best Full Featured Headset for Windows and Mac Users Who Want to Be Alone is the FreeTalk Wireless Stereo Headset

Best Value for the computer calling type Skype, Gizmo and Counterpath XLite/Eyebeam or Bria softphone user is the Freetalk Everyman as dollar for dollar, nothing on the market comes close.

Best Speakerphone for The Road Warrior (Cross platform) is the PolyCom Communicator but the only reason it bests the Yamaha is the Yamaha lacks Mac Support under the Snow Leopard operating system as Jim Courtney pointed out.

By the way. These all make for great holiday gifts and by giving any of them to the people you love to talk with, you're giving yourself a better calling experience too.

Sharing Broadband and More

While tethering on the iPhone in the USA remains a bit of a challenge (especially if your updated to the latest version of firmware on the Apple iPhone) there are other options emerging.

For years Apple Macintosh users have been able to turn a Mac that is hard wired to an Ethernet connection into a hotspot, but now the new Windows 7 OS from Microsoft has been turned into both a hotspot and a wireless bridge via Connectify.

Connectify.me is where you can find it.

Another way to share wireless broadband is Joikuspot, and now their new Boost (Beta) allows users to combine wireless broadband signals into one, giving the user really fast bandwidth.

Of course, Sprint doesn't want you to tether.

Boingo Goes Blackberry-A Huge Boon For Voice

My agency has represented Boingo for 18 months or so now, and long before that I was a Boingo customer, a happy customer, who found that using it on my Nokia N & E Series devices and my laptops was always something that allowed for easy connectivity.

One of the missing pieces, more due to RIM's SDK, was Boingo on the Blackberry. As a Blackberry user with T-Mobile I've always enjoyed logging on to WiFi at home (via Hotspot @ HOME) or at a T-Mobile Hotspot, and having my mobile number from the USA anywhere in the world accessible to me.

That worked great in the past at places like Starbucks, some airport lounges like those from American Airlines and at some airports. But as T-Mobile has been exiting the WiFi world in dribs and drabs, the most reliable and broadest reaching aggregator has been Boingo. Now, with Boingo on the Blackberry, UMA Voice will work as well on the Blackberry as client Truphone does on my iPhone, iPod Touch and Nokia E71 virtually anywhere Boingo connects.

This is a huge step forward as the business market end user which needs connectivity now can get connectivity in more places, where T-Mobile's footprint doesn't go. With Boingo, as with WiFi of your own or within the enterprise or campus, means you can get connectivity for voice coverage higher up or farther away. Currently, AT&T in the USA doesn't have a VoIP client for their users, nor is there one with Verizon or Sprint on the Blackberry's that has any traction, as access to the SIP and WiFi stacks on the RIM devices has never been really offered.

Blackberry users though should not just take my word for it, or the insight above that I've linked to. They should also read some of the insider's viewpoints as well.

BerryReview

BlackBerry Insight

CrackBerry

Blackberry Sites

PocketBerry

BerryReporter

MiFi Offered With Data Bundle in Germany

As a fan of what I dubbed "PocketSpots" sometime back, it's great to see the mobile operators around the globe beginning to embrace the little darlings.

UMPC Portal is pointing out that Vodafone Germany is offering a bundle deal where for 40 Euro per month customers receive a 5GB HSDPA contract and the device for free.

I agree with Chippy from UMPC Portal. A MiFi PocketSpot is a better deal than a laptop or Netbook with an embedded 3G modem. I also agree that obtaining an unlocked version, and buying local SIM's in each country is a far more appealing approach.

Next Generation of Eye-Fi Adds GeoTagging

if you're a shutterbug who wants to upload without any need to take the SD card out of your camera, then Eye-Fi is for you. And the newest version, according to Coolest Gadgets, now has Geotaging.

This is a great plus as you can now sort by the tags as they will identify where you shot the photos more precisely than ever before. As CG wrote: "The Eye-Fi Geo card was specially built to seamlessly integrate with Mac products and applications, including iPhoto ‘09 and ‘08, the iPhone and MobileMe."

Now that's radical integration.