Intelligent Wi-Fi Boxes for nationwide installation

In the near future, Internet users around Thailand will be able to purchase Internet access time by means of a device called an Intelligent Wi-Fi Box, or TOT Public Wi-Fi and Vending Machine.

The machines will be installed at sites around the country in a cooperative venture between TOT's Innovation Institute and a company called Mind Innovation.

Mind Innovation's research and development manager Krit Kiattanongsak said the machines would provide prepaid Internet access time. They would also be bundled with a Wi-Fi network providing wireless Internet access for users located within 150 metres.

Internet users will be able to put money into the machine, which will send information to a server and print out a ticket for the customer. For Bt1, customers will get 5 minutes' Internet access time. Each hour will cost Bt12. Tickets printed by the machines will show the user's name, password, expiry date, time, and the serial ID number of the machine.

After receiving the ticket, users will be able input their user name, password and ID-card number to verify their identity before logging on to the Internet. Customers with mobile computers equipped for Wi-Fi technology will able to access the Internet anytime within 150 metres of the box, at an affordable price.

 Krit said his company began development of the Intelligent Wi-Fi Box one year ago, based on open-source software.

An executive of TOT's Innovation Institute said the joint venturers planned to provide Voice over Internet Protocol via vending machines as a next step. Development of an intelligent machine to provide Web-phone services, delivering multimedia, is also in the pipeline.

 He said a pilot study using an Intelligent Wi-Fi Box at Thammasat University's student dormitory in Bangkok resulted in one machine creating revenue of about Bt12,000 a month.

The joint venture will test 100 sites around the country and will submit plans for the TOT Public Wi-Fi and Vending Machine service to TOT's board for approval in the next few months. 

 "The Box is not only easy to use, but it also allows users to purchase Internet access time at a lower cost and allows travellers to easily purchase Internet access time," the executive said.

The Intelligent Wi-Fi Box won a gold award at last month's Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia.