Sprint and Truckstop.net announced an agreement to bring high-speed wireless Internet access points, known as “Wi-Fi, Hot Spots” to about 3,000 truck stops and travel plazas across the United States.
Truckstop.net intends to bring the service to about 300 new locations every quarter. Truck stop operators can add these services to their locations at no cost, allowing them to provide more services to their customers including recreational and business travelers and truck drivers. Already, Truckstop.net and Sprint have connected about 25 of those sites through the new agreement as part of a preliminary rollout and new sites are being added almost daily. The new Wi-Fi services will be available through individual hourly or daily passes or through a monthly subscription.
Lubbock, Texas-headquartered Rip Griffin Truck and Travel Centers is among the first to offer Wi-Fi through Truckstop.net and Sprint at its 17 truck stop locations in western and southwestern states.
To access a connection, the user will need a laptop computer and a wireless network card or a Wi-Fi enabled personal digital assistant. Truckers will be able to simply turn on their laptops and connect to all of the information they need to stay in touch while on the road and manage their routes and loads more efficiently. Future plans will include offering hardware such as laptops, personal computers and wireless network cards to travelers who need equipment.
