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MSR Profile: Stadiums a Target for Wi-Fi Gear Maker Xirrus

January 26, 2012 by

Add Wi-Fi gear maker Xirrus to the expanding list of technology providers targeting stadium owners who are looking to better serve the wireless needs of both the fans sitting in the seats, as well stadium owners looking for wireless applications to help run their business better.

Like networking giant Cisco, which has created an entire business unit dedicated to stadium installations, the relative newcomer Xirrus is going to aggressively pursue more stadium clients this year, according to Steven Wastie, chief marketing officer for Xirrus. Last year Xirrus’s high-performance wireless network arrays (the antennas and other gear that provide the wireless link between Wi-Fi user and the network) helped bring video services and Wi-Fi power to business applications inside Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.

In a snappy video (embedded below) you get not only a customer’s explanation of the benefits Wi-Fi can bring to teams (wirelessly enabling point of sale systems allows for greater building flexibility), but also a quick data point on why you need Wi-Fi to provide features like video highlights — the Patriots’ content guy talks about how each video highlight stream takes up 300K of bandwidth, something that would be nearly impossible to provide using cellular airwaves.

The Xirrus xr4000, which can fit up to 8 wireless radios into its smoke detector-like housing. Other arrays can fit as few as two or as many as 16 radios.

The edge Xirrus brings to the stadium Wi-Fi game is its “high density” arrays, which can fit up to 16 wireless radios into a single device and are highly configurable especially directionally. By comparison, the wireless router in your home or business probably has just two antennas, which are pretty much just set to broadcast out in a circle as far as they can reach.

Being able to have more throughput per device, Wastie said, is key for stadium deployments where there are a lot of people in one place, all trying to do the same thing on their mobile device. “It’s very different from just two years ago,” Wastie said in a recent interview. “Back then high density situations were a niche. Now high density is everywhere.”

Having arrays that support more users also gives Xirrus a technology edge over competitors, since it can cover a stadium with fewer devices and less network infrastructure — often meaning significantly lower costs. Mobile Sports Report will be watching Xirrus closely throughout 2012, to see if its less-is-more wireless message gets across to stadium owners and operators.

Founded in 2004 by CEO Dirk Gates and some of his pals from chip manufacturer Xircom, the Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Xirrus is privately held.

Filed Under: Cisco, Live sports via mobile, Live Sports Video Consumption, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Video Streaming Tagged With: , ,

CrowdOptic Seeks App Opportunities via Mobile Fan Analytics

January 5, 2012 by

CrowdOptic's technology was used at the Bank of the West tennis event this past summer to give fans instant data on any player whose picture they took.

When it comes to mobile advertising, everyone seems to agree that someday the market will be huge — if only the participants could figure out a way to bring reliable analytics to the incredibly complex and highly random act of using a cell phone. Until we know what people are looking at, advertisers often say, we’re not spending on mobile.

For the mobile sports market, a company called CrowdOptic is trying to crack the code with a technology base that can offer real-time mobile analytics about what people at a game are watching to advertisers, teams and other interested parties — while also providing a real-time communications stream back to mobile phone users that could significantly enhance the sporting event they are attending.

Though the San Francisco-based startup doesn’t yet quite have a shrink-wrapped product or service, it has already demonstrated its ability to use its unique triangulation algorithm and augmented-reality app to give fans at a tennis event real-time info about the player they’ve just snapped a picture of. On the back end, CrowdOptic was able to give event organizers detailed information on exactly what the most fans were looking at through their cell phones — a practice the company calls “hyper targeting,” which theoretically could provide incredibly granular sets of data about what exactly is catching people’s attention at a sporting event. It is all wrapped under a banner the company calls “Focus-Based Services,” in an attempt to move the discussion beyond location based services and to a place where you can determine what people are looking at, and not just where they are.

While the augmented-reality app, which was tested at the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto this past summer, is one cool way to use CrowdOptic’s technology, the company isn’t yet limiting itself to just one app or service. Since the system can detect, in real time, where a crowd of mobile-phone users is shifting its attention, the possibilities for the platform to support other applications such as stadium security, in-seat advertising or ticketing may be partially why CrowdOptic was able to raise $1.5 million in funding, including a $500,000 round led by Bowman Capital this past October.

“The crown jewel that we have is the algorithm of triangulation,” said Jim Kovach, a former NFL player with the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints who is CrowdOptic’s chief operating officer. With a small app installed on a phone, CrowdOptic takes info from the phone’s GPS service and its camera, and feeds it into a system that can then provide what Kovachs calls “Google style analytics” to show what the fans are pointing their phones at. While there is still work to be done to build workable apps on top of such a platform, it’s easy to guess that an app bolstered with CrowdOptics-type analytics would be more compelling for teams, advertisers and others than a standalone app that only could broadcast info to fans but provided no back-end aggregate of where fan attention was directed.

As stadiums become better connected — say via the Cisco Connected Stadium approach — a CrowdOptic-type app running above the network plumbing could provide many ways for teams, advertisers and fans to interact in a fashion that not only delivered the best advertising to the most eyes, but could conceivably also assist in matters such as stadium security. For instance, if there was a fight or a safety situation inside the stadium, the incident could be immediately “reported” via fans pointing their cell phones at it. During incidents like the recent blackouts at Candlestick Park, CrowdOptic-connected fans might get a safety message from the stadium telling them what was happening. On a more sane level the app could help teams figure out where to best put advertising banners, and when to change messages for optimal viewing.

“Our system really goes hand in hand with stadiums that have networks like the ones Cisco installs,” Kovach said. “With that kind of connectivity we can jump in there and really raise the bar on the kinds of analytics and capabilities that can be offered to advertisers and to the fans at the game.”

So far, CrowdOptic has only announced tests with sports that are easier for the technology to isolate the participants — like tennis, where athletes are separated across a court, and motor car racing, where the vehicles stay inside discrete boundaries. Kovach said that a sport like football doesn’t lend itself well to CrowdOptic technology (the players are too close together, and move too rapidly and randomly) but baseball is a potential perfect fit (players widely spaced, lots of “pause” time and fans deeply interested in statistics).

Founded by longtime entrepreneur Jon Fisher (who met Kovachs when Fisher was on the board of a non-profit health concern Kovachs was running), CrowdOptic has a small list of paying customers, including IMG Reliance, Bank Of The West, Andrews International and Infineon Raceway — and Kovachs expects that to list to grow before 2012 ends. Clearly, just like the athletes targeted by fans using its apps at sporting events, CrowdOptic is worth watching.

Filed Under: Cisco, Live sports via mobile, Social Media, Wi-Fi Tagged With: ,

Red Sox Tap Meru for Fenway Wi-Fi Network

December 20, 2011 by

Wireless network gear provider Meru Networks has scored a big hit in the connected-stadium race by inking a deal with the Boston Red Sox to build out a Wi-Fi network inside of historic Fenway Park.

While Meru actually worked with the BoSox to install a prototype network before last baseball season, the new deal will officially tap the upstart gear vendor as the offical supplier of a full-bore Wi-Fi network designed to address the mobile broadband needs of the 37,000-plus fans who might file in on game days.

In a designed-for-an-IT-audience press release quote, the Red Sox’s IT director waxes poetically about Meru’s capabilities:

“The sheer number of devices trying to access the network was dizzying – and that number has continued to grow,” said Steve Conley, IT Director, Boston Red Sox. “Our old network simply wasn’t capable of handling the influx of devices or meeting the demand for high-performance connectivity. Meru brought stability, reliability and simplicity to our wireless infrastructure. We can now not only tune the network for optimal performance and avoid outages, we can also scale to meet network demands and reduce management costs.”

The connected-stadium marketplace is expected to heat up in 2012, with networking giant Cisco Systems already having established a separate business unit to focus on the opportunity. Investors previously thought highly of Meru’s chances to stake a claim in the wireless-access market, as the company was able to go public last year in an IPO that netted almost $66 million. However, the company’s stock price has declined since the offering, trading now in the $3-per-share range after hitting highs in the 20s.

Filed Under: Baseball, Wi-Fi Tagged With: ,

AT&T Beefing Up Cell Service in Superdome for BCS Championship

December 15, 2011 by

An example of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) antenna atop a light pole. Credit: Sidecut Reports.


In order to make sure that BCS doesn’t also stand for “Bad Cellular Service,” AT&T is beefing up wireless coverage inside the New Orleans Superdome in advance of the Jan. 9, 2012 national-title matchup between LSU and Alabama.

According to Larry Lovell, a spokesperson for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, AT&T is currently installing what is known as a DAS, or Distributed Antenna System, inside the cavernous arena. A DAS is basically a bunch of small antennas that connect to mobile phones the same way as big cellular towers do. Historically used inside office buildings and convention centers, DAS installs are now becoming a way for cellular providers to overcome the bandwidth challenges created by the onslaught of tens of thousands of fans arriving at stadiums with their smartphones ready to connect. The big numbers of customers wanting wireless access typically swamps the few cellular towers near stadiums, making connectivity a problem during game time.

By placing a lot of small antennas inside the Superdome AT&T should be able to provide much better service to the expected packed house for the BCS title game. Using a DAS install to beef up stadium throughput is a tactic used by AT&T before, most notably at Cowboys Stadium for last year’s Super Bowl and most recently at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Lovell said the AT&T DAS install at the Superdome is slated to be finished by Dec. 23 and activated by Dec. 26, in time for a test run at the Sugar Bowl game on Jan. 3, 2012, followed by the BCS Championship the following Monday.

Though the Superdome already has an extensive Wi-Fi network, it is used for internal communications and services (like ticketing) and for media use, not for the general public. Lovell said the Superdome and AT&T are exploring the possibility of installing a public Wi-Fi network at a later date, along the lines of other AT&T projects at places like AT&T Park or Chase Field in Phoenix.

Lovell said the Superdome and AT&T are currently negotiating with other cellular carriers to give their customers the ability to roam on AT&T’s DAS network. The Superdome install would be just the latest in a long string of aggressive DAS projects from AT&T, including a DAS network currently being installed in and around the Silicon Valley city of Palo Alto. If all goes well AT&T customers in particular should be able to send all those texts, LOLs and photos from the game without a hitch.

Filed Under: AT&T, BCS, iPhone, Wi-Fi Tagged With:

Looking for a Holiday Gift for the Athlete in Your Life?

December 6, 2011 by

Looking for a holiday gift that both meets the needs of the receiver and does not make you look like you just picked up the first thing that caught your eye so that you could eliminate one more name from you list? Good Luck!

Well in the giving spirit here are a few suggestions that are not simply an iPad2 here and a Android phone there. While these are great products there is an entire range of other products out there that you might want to consider as well.

For the connected athlete

Looking for something a bit different? How about the Motoactv from Motorola Mobility, a device designed to track your workout and provide a soundtrack at the same time. Wait you say, I can do the same with technology that I already own, right?

While it seems that a standard iPhone or Android smartphone does ok for this in a gym, most users to not want to risk breaking their phone on a long run, particularly if they push themselves over rough terrain. Breaking your phone and then being forced to spend a lot for a new one is not a great option for most of us.

Touted as a fusion between music and fitness it is a lightweight device that enables an athlete to track their efforts, steps taken, calories burned and you can compare it to past efforts. Or if friends are also using the technology you can compete and compare with them.

The core of the Motoactv is a small device with a 1.6-inch screen that controls both workout information and as a music controller. It incorporates Motorola AccuSense technology and GPS to measure your performance including distance, speed, heart rate1 and calories burned in an accurate manner.

Among the features is the ability to sync with an Android-based phone for calls, either 8GB or 16GBs storage for music, FM radio capabilities and support for Bluetooth headphones. The MSRP for Motoactv 8G is $249 and $299 for the 16G version. Headphones are separate.

A full size Tablet with Keyboard option
In the full size pad space there is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101. With a 10-inch screen it is the same size as its more hyped rivals and yet is not as pricey and comes with a full set of features. Powered by a dual core nVidia Tegra 2.1GHz processor it has plenty of power for even HD video playback.

What makes the Transformer an interesting buy is its ability to form a traditional notebook shape with its optional docking station that features a full QWERT keyboard. The docking station also serves as an additional battery so that it extends the devices operational life from 9.5 hours to 16 hours.

It features the latest version of the Android operating system, the 3.2 Honeycomb and will be upgradeable to the Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 version when that s commercially available. It has 1GB of memory and a choice between 16GB and 32GB storage. Other feature include a 5MP rear facing camera and a 1.2MP front facing camera, a mini HDMI outlet for output to HD video on HDTVs, two USB ports, a built-in SD Card reader

7-Inch Tablet variety growing
In this space a good, but a bit pricey, option is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. If it seems like there are a lot of Samsung Galaxy’s out and about these days, there are. This is a second generation 7-inch device from Samsung. It has a 1.2GHz processor and features 16GB of storage that can be expanded to 32GB with the use of a MicroSD card. . It includes a 2MP front camera and a 3MP back facing camera.

Using Androids’ Honeycomb operating system the device includes cellular as well as wireless support, something that sets it apart from mainstream e-readers. The tablet ships with Zinio, a program that allows you to choose from 5,000 full color magazines, with 5 free ones available with sign in.

If you are looking for an e- reader, one of the 7-inch devices that is used primarily for downloading and storing books, magazines and newspapers for your perusal the options are much more limited for good choices than for a larger tablet. However that does not mean you have to settle for second best.

But buyers beware, or at least shop prepared. I have found in talking to people they often expect more than the product offers. I think this in part because some of these devices, particularly the Kindle Fire, have been touted as an iPad killer. Know what you want and read the product specs prior to buying. If cellular connection particularly is important to you, many of these devices do not feature it, opting for just Wi-Fi.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire has been getting a great deal of news lately, and from my brief usage, deservedly so. The Barnes and Nobles Nook is another popular one that came out recently, and there is not a great deal of difference between the two, they share a great deal of similar features and it is important that you know what you want and do not want in a e-reader prior to purchase.

Odds and Ends
Remote controlled cooking?
For the obsessive cook with money to burn there is the iGrill Thermometer, a device that enables your iOS device to track the temperature of meat cooking in the oven or BBQ. For a sports fan that likes to cook in the winter this could be just the ticket.

Slightly bigger than an iPhone the $100 device allows you to remotely monitor cooking food and handles a range of temperatures from 32 degrees to 400 degrees. It is designed to be placed near the cooking food with a probe in the food attached to the meat and the iGrill. Then you can get readings on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and it has a maximum distance of 200 feet. It. has two alarm settings and users can get a second probe.

Idle Fun
For the Android user in your life who likes to be amused there is the Sphero. The Sphero is a simple ball, roughly the size of a pool ball that can be controlled by an Android powered smartphone or tablet. It does nothing productive unless you consider taunting your cat or dog as productive.

The ball, which can be charged via cable free induction, has the ability to change color or glow in the dark. There are a range of games available for Sphero from sites such as Amazon Apps store and Android Market. It does also support iOS devices.

Filed Under: Amazon, Android, Apps, iPad, iPhone, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Tablets, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , ,

Cisco Scoring Big in Europe with Stadium Wi-Fi, Infrastructure Deals

December 1, 2011 by

Warsaw's new National Stadium, soon to be powered with Cisco networking technology.


With a couple new deals for stadium-network infrastructure, U.S. networking giant Cisco Systems is at the start of what could be a big string of wins for its new focus on “connected stadiums.”

A Nov. 15 announcement of plans for soccer powerhouse Real Madrid to partner with Cisco to bring fan-accessible Wi-Fi and other improvements to its home stadium in Madrid was followed by an announcement on Nov. 21 of a deal for Cisco to bring a wide range of technology to the new National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, where next year’s Euro 2012 soccer tourney will kick off.

Cisco Sports and Entertainment Solutions Group SVP and GM David Holland

Though Cisco is no stranger to sports stadium deals — it helped AT&T build wireless networks inside stadiums like AT&T Park in San Francisco and Stanford Stadium, and is behind wireless efforts at facilities like Kansas City’s Livestrong Park soccer arena — the next year should see Cisco kick into full gear on its “connected sports solutions” group, headed by senior VP and GM David Holland. While free Wi-Fi is of top interest to most fans these days, Cisco’s breadth of networking smarts brings even more to the table for venue owners — including the ability to integrate voice, public safety and other data streams like ticketing and concessions into a tight, secure, single IT infrastructure.

For fans, the benefits of a connected stadium are clear: Personal access to instant video replays, the ability to order food from your seat, and the fun of connecting with fans and friends either in the venue or out on the Internet. For teams and stadium owners, a fully connected stadium not only helps make fans happier, it can also increase advertising and other revenue streams while reducing administration and cost of IT ownership.

Where Cisco has an edge over other technology providers is in its depth of offerings — not only is it the world leader in back-end routing and switching gear, but it is also among the market leaders in wireless access gear, through the expertise of its Linksys division. Unknown to most observers is Cisco’s strength in digital-display technology, which it uses in stadium situations to improve or enhance video display on screens both big and small.

Sports is something Cisco understands

And unlike other consumer-based offerings — such as its failed efforts to crack into the personal video market by buying handheld videocam maker Flip — Cisco clearly “gets” the sports fan’s desire to have better access to technology. Just read this snippet from a Cisco blog about stadium technology, which reads like something we might write here at MSR:

Picture a fan sitting in a football stadium full of tens of thousands of people getting ready for the game to begin. The stadium is roaring with noise, the team takes the pitch, and the fan uses his or her mobile device to snap a picture, capturing an iconic moment.

Like most football fans, and sports fans in general, he or she is a vibrant digital and social media consumer, and therefore tries to share that photo via a social media channel like Facebook.

However, with so many fans in the stadium desiring to do that same thing, or engage with their mobile device in another way, the strain on the existing mobile network at the game is intense. The fan finds the device has a low level of or no connectivity, and is unable to share that moment with friends, family and other fans…an inability to interact – something this fan and scores of others desire.

And going to Europe makes plenty of sense for a global powerhouse like Cisco, mainly because of the more-advanced cellular culture there. In some research we are conducting now at MSR we are finding out that most big stadiums in this country have little or no Wi-Fi access — except maybe in the luxury suites. In Europe the revolution toward fully wired fans is already in full swing, and Cisco is smart to get out in front early. It will be interesting to see how quickly these stadium deals contribute to the networking giant’s bottom line.

Filed Under: AT&T, Cisco, Facebook, Live sports via mobile, Live Sports Video Consumption, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , ,
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