BT MyPlace (www.btmyplace.com) is a free "pocket
concierge" service, available from any wireless device using
the BT Openzone outdoor Wi-Fi network in central London and the West
End from 4 February 2009.
Users can register their personal
preferences (including favourite food, shops or activities), and
will be sent nearby recommendations based on these favourites and
their location. (see image of
restaurant finder)
The service is free to users, but
customers wanting to use the wider internet over the BT outdoor
Wi-Fi network will pay as usual.
BT MyPlace brings together content
from partners including Time Out, Love Theatre, Kodak, LondonPass
and Audible.com. Westminster City Council information and transport
detail is also available.
Who is behind the service?
BT MyPlace is a six month trial and
was designed and driven by BT.
Converged media solutions company
io global limited is developing and maintaining the service.
BT MyPlace is supported by
Westminster City Council and partners Intel and Cisco.
Screenshots
You can pick up some screenshots
here, or grab them from Flickr.
Quotes
"Westminster City Council is
committed to supporting residents and businesses in central London
and this is an example of how new technology can help during the
difficult economic climate. This service will not only help people
find their way around our city but also direct them towards local
businesses that they otherwise may not have known about. We are
taking some important steps towards becoming the best managed city
in the world in time for 2012 and this joint project with BT is
further evidence to support this goal." Cllr Colin
Barrow, Leader of Westminster City Council.
"Unlike a classic city guide,
BT MyPlace is personalised to your interests and location. Because
it is delivered over the BT Openzone outdoor Wi-Fi network it also
offers a faster and more reliable internet service than can be
accessed on thousands of devices." Chris Bruce, general
manager, BT Openzone.
"There has long been talk
about personalised location-based services, but nothing has actually
been available until now. BT MyPlace is a great example of how our
technology can help people quickly find what they want using the
device of their choice." Peter Gandy, vice preseident
Broadband Services, io global.
"Cisco's Wireless Network
solution supports the service delivering cost-efffective, secure
outdoor wireless connectivity. It integrates smoothly with the
existing wired network and lets Westminster extend services and
applications without sacrificing security or manageability. Able to
detect the location of th euser, the technology allows BT MyPlace to
provide context aware communicatinos and service delivery to
residents, business commuters and visitors." Delyth
Harris, head of Access and Mobility Solutions, Cisco Europe.
More information
If you're blogging about BT
MyPlace, and have any questions about it or simply want some more
information, please contact alex [dot] pearmain [at]
fishburn-hedges.com or chris [dot] reed [at] fishburn-hedges.com
For further information on io
global's range of services, visit io global's site. And for
more information about BT Openzone, go to www.btopenzone.com