Cingular Wireless Improves Coverage in Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Improves Coverage in Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
Monday September 20, 9:38 am ET
Part of the company's 2004 $190 Million Network Enhancement Campaign


ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless announced today that it has improved cellular coverage to Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, the state's largest hotel-based convention facility, by adding special equipment designed to strengthen signals throughout the resort, its back-areas and offices.
Since the staff of the 1,406-room hotel and 400,000 square-foot convention center often relies on cell phones to communicate with one another, the new system increases the ability for staff members to quickly assess and address any situation that may arise on the expansive property.

A Cingular Wireless cell site located one-half mile from the hotel property provides wireless coverage to the resort. However, the tower does not provide the level of coverage necessary for employees who work in the resort's labyrinth of back-area offices and service areas, many of which are located beneath the hotel atrium.

In order to improve coverage where it was needed the most, Cingular installed a repeater system in the "sub-atrium" service area and an antenna on the roof of the resort. The antenna takes the signal from the nearby cell site and directs it to the repeater system which amplifies the signal inside the building, thereby dramatically improving the wireless coverage.

"When striving for flawless guest service, even a few seconds can make a big difference," said John Caparella, general manager, Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. "The new system has already increased the responsiveness and accessibility of our staff, allowing unrestricted communication."

Cingular operates an advanced GSM/GPRS/EDGE network. GSM, or Global System for Mobile Communications, gives customers the latest technology advances, including phones with greater functionality and unique features, high-speed data connectivity and superior sound quality. With more than 1 billion people in 200-plus countries using GSM technology, more than 70% of the world's total wireless market is GSM. And what GSM delivers for voice, GPRS/EDGE technology delivers for data. GPRS, or General Packet Radio System, is an enhancement for GSM that transmits and receives data in packets and EDGE takes it to the next level supporting higher peak data rates. Cingular's EDGE data network gives customers in this market who are activated on Cingular data-enabled rate plans and obtain EDGE-enabled handsets faster speeds when accessing the Internet from a wireless phone or laptop, or while sending and receiving digital images. Cingular Wireless was the first carrier in North America to launch EDGE in 2003.

Since 2002, Cingular has invested more than $400 million -- $3.2 million a week -- in Florida deploying and enhancing a next-generation network and providing advanced new services throughout the state. By the end of 2004, the company expects to have invested more than $190 million in North and West Florida which includes the implementation of an advanced voice and data network and improvements in coverage and capacity throughout the region.

"We were thrilled to work with Gaylord Palms on this project which will help them exceed the high level of service they already provide to their guests," said Dan Norman, vice president and general manager for Cingular Wireless-North Florida. "Their goal is similar to ours in that we are constantly striving to improve the level of service we provide to our customers and this year we are investing millions in our network to vastly improve coverage, particularly in residential areas, in-building locations, and major roadways throughout the region."

About Gaylord Palms

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center has gained the attention of the meeting and convention industry by providing world-class convention and leisure-focused amenities -- all in one place. The award-winning Gaylord Palms is a Gaylord Hotels-branded property owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET - News), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit http://www.gaylordpalms.com or http://www.gaylordentertainment.com .

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE: SBC - News) and BellSouth (NYSE: BLS - News), serves more than 25 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular is the largest provider of GSM services in the United States, and has a 100 percent digital GSM/GPRS footprint across its service area. It also launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular also provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com .




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Source: Cingular Wireless

[Andy]

Good to hear another carrier improved service there; didn't Verizon install a repeater system there about 6 months or so ago?? I think I remember reading about it.
Does anyone have personal experience with service there? I know a friend of mine went there about a month ago, I'll have to ask him how service was.