LAX (photo courtesy of the airport)
 

An estimated 2.9 million travelers will pass through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) during the end of year holidays alone (through Monday, January 2, 2006).  The 17-day holiday period’s passenger volume is expected to exceed last year’s total of 2.8 million. The increase in passengers over last year’s total is driven by an increase in international travel. Domestic travel is expected to be flat compared with last year.

Airport officials said the airlines, airport staff and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are prepared for the high passenger volumes, ready to provide a safe and pleasant travel experience for all travelers.  This year, LAX, the airlines and TSA opened eight new passenger screening lanes, bringing the total to almost 60. In particular, at Terminal 1 (Southwest, USAirways and America West) and Terminal 4 (American Airlines),  previously the two most congested terminals, separate screening stations with three lanes each were placed in service during the Thanksgiving holiday period. All available Airport police and traffic officers will be on duty for crowd control, traffic management, crime prevention and parking enforcement.

Drivers coming to the airport can hear up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions on freeways and roadways to and in the airport. LAX AirRadio 530 AM is the only source of official information on airport conditions broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During the holidays, the radio will broadcast live from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The radio station provides listeners in a 10-mile radius from LAX with information so they can adjust to changing traffic , security and parking conditions.

To help motorists avoid traffic congestion in the Central Terminal Area, the LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at 9011 Airport Blvd. offers a free parking alternative 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Motorists can wait for arriving passengers to call them on their cell phones and then drive to the curbside on the Lower/Arrivals Level to pickup their passengers. 

For up-to-date information on airport, traffic and parking conditions, tune your car radio to AirRadio 530 AM or visit the LAX Internet website at www.lawa.org. For travel security information, visit the TSA website at www.TSA.gov.

Greystripe Launched Caffeine Finder, a free coffee shop local search application for BlackBerry® users.

Mountain View, California - Greystripe, a creator of mobile local search applications, launched Caffeine Finder, a free application for BlackBerry® users that allows coffee lovers traveling to find their next cup of coffee. One click from the BlackBerry® handset helps travelers finds, maps, and lists the coffee shops nearest them.

"BlackBerry handsets provide a rich user experience with a robust application development platform that allows Greystripe to develop mobile search applications that are fast, fun and easy to use," said Andy Choi, CTO of Greystripe. "It was an easy choice to make BlackBerry our first launch platform."

The new application allows users to find a cafe in any unfamiliar location by launching the Caffeine Finder application from a BlackBerry handset, picking a cafe from a "Nearest List," selecting Caffeine Finder for a map, directions, a review, and the address. Nextel network users, can take advantage of the automatic GPS location functions built into the BlackBerry 7520™ and the new BlackBerry 7100i™.

The Caffeine Finder application allows users to find a cup of coffee at more than 45,000 locations with a "one click" process integrated into the BlackBerry address book, phone and email applications. Users may see photos of more than 4,000 Starbucks locations and get directions and maps. They can also read and write reviews of the cafés they visit and find out about fun coffee facts from The Coffee Book by Nina Luttinger and Gregory Dicum
   
"BlackBerry is used by businesses, government and individuals to enable communications, productivity and convenience," said Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. "Greystripe is leveraging the power of the BlackBerry wireless platform to offer additional value-added applications to millions of people across the country and further increase the flexibility and convenience enabled by owning a BlackBerry handset."

Greystripe creates mobile local search applications that it calls "Finder" applications, which provide the fastest, lowest-key-stroke finding on the go. Greystripe won the Grand Prize of the BlackBerry 7520 Location Based Services Challenge in July 2005, sponsored by Nextel and Research in Motion with a $50,000 prize. Greystripe is a proud member of the BlackBerry® ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Alliance Program, and has streamlined its application development process with the creation of its LocationX Client and Server Platform. Greystripe plans to launch a number of mobile local search applications in the coming months with premium content partners.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. Visit www.greystripe.com to register and to download the application directly on to a BlackBerry handset from Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM).

City of Corpus Christi, Texas, one of the top digital cities

Sacramento , CA — (Market Wire) The Center for Digital Government (www.centerdigitalgov.com) named the most technology-advanced cities in America. The selection is based on the Center’s 2005 Digital Cities Survey, an annual study which examines how city governments utilize digital technologies to better serve their citizens and streamline operations. The 2005 Digital Cities Survey was underwritten by Hyland Software, developers of OnBase. The first-place cities in their respective population categories are Corpus Christi, Texas; Madison, Wisconsin; Roanoke, Virginia, and Delray Beach, Florida.

Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center

"This survey showcases a significant increase in cities’ utilization of both wireless and broadband infrastructure," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center.  "This survey also continues to showcase the level of commitment by local officials to view technology as a key element in delivering vital citizen services. We are pleased to honor our nation’s cutting-edge cities with the 2005 Digital Cities Survey award."

Top 10 Digital Cities

250,000 or more population category:

1st City of Corpus Christi, Texas
2nd City of Tampa, Fla.
3rd City of Los Angeles, Calif.
4th City of Aurora, Colo. (tie)
4th City of Tucson, Ariz. (tie)
5th City of Chicago, Ill.
6th City of Saint Paul, Minn.
7th City of Wichita, Kan.
8th City of Nashville, Tenn.
9th City of Colorado Springs, Colo. (tie)
9th City of Virginia Beach, Va. (tie)
10th City of Mesa, Ariz.

125,000-249,999 population category:

1st City of Madison, Wisc.
2nd City of Richmond, Va.
3rd City of Winston-Salem, N.C.
4th City of Alexandria, Va. (tie)
4th City of Lincoln, Neb. (tie)
5th City of Des Moines, Iowa
6th City of Irving, Texas
7th City of Hampton, Va.
8th City of Naperville, Ill.
9th City of Torrance, Calif.
10th Salt Lake City, Utah

75,000-124,999 population category:

1st City of Roanoke, Va.
2nd City of Denton, Texas
3rd Ogden City, Utah
4th City of Independence, Mo.
5th City of Richardson, Texas
6th City of Westminster, Colo.
7th City of Olathe, Kan.
8th City of West Palm Beach, Fla.
9th City of Fort Collins, Colo. (tie)
9th City of Arvada, Colo. (tie)
10th Village of Schaumburg, Ill.

30,000-74,999 population category:

1st City of Delray Beach, Fla.
2nd Town of Blacksburg, Va.
3rd City of Manchester, Conn. (tie)
3rd City of Charlottesville, Va. (tie)
4th City of Lenexa, Kan.
5th Town of Flower Mound, Texas
6th City of Lynchburg, Va.
7th Village of Wellington, Fla.
8th City of Jupiter, Fla.
9th City of Medford, Ore.
10th City of Alameda, Calif.

The Center for Digital Government (www.centerdigitalgov.com) is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The Center is a business division of e.Republic, Inc., a publishing, media and research firm based in Folsom, California.  For more information on the study, visit http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/05digitalcities.php. For more information on Corpus Christi’s connectivity, visit http://www.cctexas.com/wifi/

West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airports offer travelers complimentary WiFi connectivity within the airport. We began writting this note using the Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport wireless connection.

Although the first attempt failed due to a dropped connection in the departure area, we logged on a second time at the gate to find a stronger connection. Information on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport wireless services in Broward County can be found on the Airport’s website at http://www.broward.org/airport/airport_services.htm#seven

West Palm Beach International Airport also offers wireless access to travelers 24 hours a days, seven days a week. Information on the airport and wireless service can be found at the Airport website at http://www.pbia.org/airport/news.aspx?ID=5dc43e68-1d73-4511-8617-06e222a087ba

Boston, MA,  Wired Magazine recently selected BroadVoice, Inc., a leading provider of high quality, feature-rich broadband phone services to consumers and businesses, as the number one provider of "full phone service" among Voice over IP companies. BroadVoice was also identified as the "best choice for jet-setters" and those who already have a Voice over IP phone adapter.

"Our customers have experienced BroadVoice’s advantages like quality, price, free features and convenience for over two years now. The team at BroadVoice is very proud to receive Wired Magazine’s Editors’ Top Pick for Internet phone service and we’re especially excited about how the new features and wireless devices we’re introducing will make the broadband communications experience even more rewarding for our customers," said Gene Cornfield, spokesperson for BroadVoice, Inc. "Like the editors at Wired Magazine, Americans are finding BroadVoice the number one Voice over IP provider, and consumers are increasingly purchasing BroadVoice service and devices as gifts for their loved ones to stay in touch more affordably. With the addition of this new honor from Wired Magazine, we expect to be very busy this holiday season."

According to the November 2005 Wired Magazine edition, "For people who keep homes in Manhattan, Paris, and Madrid, or just know those who do, BroadVoice is the cheapest full-service way to banter, parler, or hablar. It offers unlimited calling in the U.S. and to 20 other countries, mostly in Europe, but also a smattering in Asia and the Americas, plus Australia. You can add 14 more countries for an extra $5 per month."

Expansion plans are in the immediate future for BroadVoice due to this year’s 180 percent increase in customers. The company’s Web site attracted 233 percent more visitors this year than last.  To keep up with the steady customer demand, BroadVoice recently moved into larger offices and plans to hire more staff.

"Many people used to see Internet phone service as a viable alternative," said Cornfield. "Well, that was yesterday. Today, our Internet phone services and products are very much in the mainstream and used by businesses and people around the globe."

Established in 1993 and designed for business leaders and entrepreneurs as well as general consumers interested in what’s next in the digital revolution, Wired Magazine focuses on the science, lifestyle, businesses, politics and personalities that surround innovative technologies and push them forward in the 21 century. Regular topics include multimedia, cyberspace, cutting-edge technologies, high-definition television, virtual reality and the electronic frontier. For more information, visit www.wired.com .

BroadVoice is a leading provider of quality, feature-rich broadband phone services to consumers and businesses. BroadVoice VoIP phone service allows thousands of customers in the United States and more than 120 other countries to use their broadband Internet connection to make and receive phone calls anywhere in the world where there is Internet connectivity. It offers unlimited domestic and international calling and 25 basic and advanced features for a set monthly price. Founded in December 2003, BroadVoice is a privately held company based in Billerica, MA. For more information, visit www.broadvoice.com .