Ardent Launches New Broadband Communications Portfolio for Travelers

📅 September 19, 2001 - Ardent Communications, Inc. (ardentcomm.com), a nationwideprovider of broadband access and bundled data services, has announced thelaunch of its Ardent Anywhere business unit and its new suite of Internetaccess, business communications and productivity solutions for hotels andpublic areas.

Ardent Anywhere offers the high quality data services including broadbandInternet connectivity, specialized Internet support, and sales partnershipfor hotels, meeting rooms, and convention centers. The product linesavailable include the Ardent Anywhere Automated Business Center, aself-service island of business equipment including computers, printers,dataports, copiers, and fax machines that are all remotely monitored andmaintained by Ardent. With the Automated Business Center, hospitalityestablishments have the ability to offer their guests high-speed Internetaccess and business services while on the road. These services also givehospitality establishments the ability to earn additional revenue whileproviding their customers and guests with the equipment they need while awayfrom home.
"Ardent Anywhere's broad suite of solutions is focused on the needs of thebusiness traveler as well as of corporate conventions and meetings. Theseexpanded product offerings leverage our foothold in the hospitality industrywhile also bringing us closer to profitability," said Michael Martinez,senior vice president of hospitality sales. "The goal of these products andservices is to give business travelers and mobile users a reliable way to dobusiness, check email, surf the Web, shop online, create presentations, copymaterials, send timely documents and more all while away from home and theoffice."
Ardent's Automated Business Center product is a full-service, integratedbusiness center. The centers include high speed Internet access, computers,office software, laptop ports, digital fax capability and state-of-the-artcolor printers and copiers. This product is available in a variety of colorsand layouts to fit any room or location. All services are credit cardactivated and charged directly to the customer. Ardent also offers a MiniAutomated Business Center which enables properties with limited space tooffer their customers the same services as a full-size business center. Thisunit includes a touch-screen credit card activation console, a fullyconfigured business-class PC, a combined color printer/fax/copier unit and alaptop data port.
The portfolio's Broadband Meeting Room Solution provides hotels andcorporate clients with an end-to-end, fully managed, completely turnkeybroadband Internet solution for in-house meetings, conventions, andconferences. This service includes bandwidth as well as the set-up, remotemonitoring and maintenance, customer service, and direct billing to thecorporate client. Since a contract has already been established with theproperty owner, the bandwidth to the property is already provisioned,eliminating lengthy provisioning times and local loop charges. ArdentAnywhere's meeting and convention specialists take complete ownership of theprocess for the hotel, including sales, engineering, technology and billingand can provide an on-site technician at the corporate client's request. TheBroadband Meeting Room Solution is priced per event, based on the technologythe customer requires and pays out a 50 percent commission on all contractsto the property owner or event planner.
Ardent's Internet Coffee Table is designed to provide comfortable, privateInternet access in public spaces and is ideal for any public area wherecustomers have downtime, including airports, hospitals, waiting rooms, orcyber-cafes. This solution includes credit card swipe technology, privacyglass, high speed Internet access, monitors and computers and enablescustomers to stay connected anytime, anywhere.
The Ardent Internet Lounge is designed for spaces frequented by businesstravelers and includes data ports for laptop plug-in and multiple managed PCstations for travelers without laptops. These services are also credit cardactivated and charged directly to the customer.
Ardent Anywhere provides customers and property owners with the BroadbandSupport Package which supports and monitors all Ardent Anywhere products anddetects when a device is having problems. Ardent can then remotely correctthe issue, send out a team to repair the problem, or contact the propertyowner for on-site maintenance. This extensive monitoring capability includesmaintaining and supporting Internet connections, console software upgrades,repairing and/or replacing equipment, and informing properties when systemsare low on toner, paper, and other supplies.