Wednesday 17^th May 2011: Bitbuzz, Ireland’s largest independent Wi-Fi network operator has developed a wireless printing product to allow hotel guests to wirelessly print documents from anywhere in the hotel to a dedicated printer at the hotel reception.

The service does not require the user to download any additional software and it removes the potential risk of computer viruses being spread from the use of discs and USB keys.

Bitbuzz developed the product in response to requests from hotel managers, who reported an increase in demand from guests wanting to use the hotel reception printing facilities. Typical documents guests request to print include, flight boarding passes and information for conferences. However, hotels are reluctant to allow guests to plug in USB sticks into hotel PCs for fear that this 3rd party hardware could have a computer virus and would infect the hotel network.

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manager, Bitbuzz, said: “With our wireless printing product there is no need for software or USB drives and therefore no risk of computer viruses spreading to hotel computers from public devices.  Guests who are connected to the Bitbuzz network, simple click to print their document as they would at home and then collect it at the hotel reception at their convenience. The guests computer will automatically see the ‘Bitbuzz Guest Printer’ in their list of printers so there is no need to install additional drivers. The service is compatible will all laptops and netbooks as well as all Apple AirPrint compatible devices such are the Apple iPhone and iPad.”

McQuillan continued: “We have built this product specially for our hotel customers who see a real demand for such a service, and we are the first company in Ireland to offer a solution in this way. “

Ann Donaghy, General Manager, Ramada Hotel Portrush, one of the hotels currently using the wireless printing product, commented: “We are delighted that Bitbuzz can offer us this product, as we required a service that would allow us to provide for guests requesting printing facilities, but also protect our systems from malicious software. We previously offered a Wi-Fi service to guests with BTOpenzone, but Bitbuzz’s Wireless Printing product, as well as their quality offering, is the reason we switched to their service.”

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Issued on behalf of Bitbuzz by Heneghan PR

Media Contact:

Heneghan PR

Louise McNamee / Sorcha Mullis

Tel: (01) 660 7395

Email: louise@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie

Web: www.hpr.ie

About Bitbuzz

Founded in 2003, Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator, providing High Speed Wireless Internet Access services to roaming partners, location owners and direct users. Bitbuzz is the only wholly-owned Irish telecoms company focused entirely on the Wi-Fi market. The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires.  Bitbuzz currently has over 250 Wi-Fi hotspots and over 7,000 hotel bedrooms in its network in Ireland and the UK, with further expansion planned for 2011 to meet growing demand. For more information visit www.bitbuzz.com

24 May 2011: Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator has signed a deal to provide Wi-Fi internet access to patients at Clane General Hospital, Co Kildare.

 There has been a huge increase in demand for Wi-Fi at the hospital from both in-patients and out-patients. Out-patients need a reliable Wi-Fi service in order to check their work emails and keep in touch with the office, while in-patients can update family and friends at home or overseas on their progress and access well wishing emails in an instant.”

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manager, Bitbuzz, commented: “We are continuing to install Wi-Fi hotspots and increase coverage in areas where we see a demand. In the information and communication rich society we live in, it is extremely important for those who may need to go into hospital at the last minute, or for an extended stay, that they have reliable access to their emails and the internet.”

Bitbuzz has been operating in Irish hospitals for over five years, including St Vincents Hospital, St James Hospital and The Mater Private Hospital, however Clane is the first hospital in which Bitbuzz provides complete coverage throughout the establishment.

Sean Layden, CEO, Clane General Hospital, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Bitbuzz to provide this service for our patients. It is important for those who are undergoing treatment to be able to have the support of their friends and family and to keep them updated on their progress. At Clane General Hospital we pride ourselves on demonstrating the highest standards of organisational management and service delivery, and we have no doubt that the quality of the Bitbuzz Wi-Fi will fit in with this philosophy.”

(Ends)

Issued on behalf of Bitbuzz by Heneghan PR.

Media Contact:

Heneghan PR

Louise McNamee / Sorcha Mullis

Tel: (01) 660 7395

Email: louise@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie

Web: www.hpr.ie

About Bitbuzz

Founded in 2003, Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator, providing High Speed Wireless Internet Access services to roaming partners, location owners and direct users. Bitbuzz is the only wholly-owned Irish telecoms company focused entirely on the Wi-Fi market. The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires.  Bitbuzz currently has over 250 Wi-Fi hotspots and over 7,000 hotel bedrooms in its network in Ireland and the UK, with further expansion planned for 2011 to meet growing demand. For more information visit www.bitbuzz.com

Before I get into the ‘action plan’ for dealing with hotels or companies that have gone into administration, you need to know a little about the administration process.

Many people panic when they are doing business with a company and they hear that it has gone into administration, administration is very different to bankruptcy.  Bankruptcy is when a company has no possible way of survival and everything is lost.  Administration is a process of survival.

A company can be placed into administration by one of more companies that it owe’s money to.  Typically in the hotel business, the two main culprits who place hotels into administration are banks (who are owed a large amount of money in a mortgage or overdraft) and the Inland Revenue who are maybe owed a large amount of cash in VAT or PAYE payments.  A company may also place itself into administration if it thinks things have gone to far.

The company responsible for placing a company into administration, then appoints an Administrator.

The administer is a company specialist in this sort of thing, they act on behalf of the company owners, the people the company owes money to and the general running of the day to day business.

With hotels it is usually normal practice for the administrator to appoint a ‘hotel management company’ to do the day to day stuff which lets them concentrate on the future of the business.  The original owner of the business’s involvement mainly depends on the how the administrator feels about how they have ran the business up to the point it went into administration.  It is common enough for the administrators to pay the owner a salary to stay involved in the interim, in some cases the owner will not be allowed on the premises for any reason.

The company will not stay in administration for-ever but the time can vary from one month to 3 years (or more) dependent on the debt levels, current turnover and future plans.

There are a number of potential outcomes to administration.

1.  Complete bankruptcy, the company has no future and is wound down.

2.  Break up, in the case of a hotel, the property and land might be sold in chunks to developers.  The fixtures and fittings sold at auction etc, this is common if the month to month business is simply un-viable moving forward.  In hotel chains, it is common for the individual hotels to be sold off or the group to be split into smaller groups.

3.  The company is sold to another company, this is generally the quickest way out of administrator where another company see’s a bargain and grabs the hotel for a cut down price.

4. The hotel can work it’s way out of administration and return to the original owners, this is also not un-common and a situation were the administrators gets the company running correctly again, cutting all dead weight, re-structuring the debt and sailing on.

5. Management buy-out.  Not as common in today’s market but in times when credit is more freely available, management who were not previously owners can club together with the help of investors and banks to buy back the company.

So what do you do, if you supply a company that goes into administration.

The ‘Action Plan’

1. Firstly, you need to get to know your industry.  Thankfully, I am well connected in the hotel industry so I hear about these things (in most case’s) before they go public, this means conversations can take place ahead of the news.  Have you ever tried calling a business the day bad news is broken?  It’s not a good idea.

2. You need to know the law and your rights as a supplier.  You have a contract with BIG HOTEL LTD and on 21st May 2011, BIG HOTEL LTD goes into Administration,  You are owed every single penny up until 21st May, thats not to say you will get paid that money but you are owed it.

3. You need to cut the credit to BIG HOTEL LTD, if you continue to supply credit to this company there is a good chance you won’t get paid because that company on paper does not trade anymore

4. Speak to the management, the administrators, your contacts, the doorman, the bank, the neighbours dogs, whoever you like.  The point of this conversation is three fold, firstly that you are happy to continue to supply them, secondly to agree new terms (ie, reduced credit, a DD mandate, payment up front, whatever you are comfortable with) and thirdly to GET THE NEW COMPANY DETAILS.

The new company details will generally be BIG HOTEL (IN ADMINISTRATION) LTD with the same company registration number and all of your documents, invoices and agreements need to reflect this.

5. Set up a new agreement but be careful who sign’s it, it can be signed by the following people

a) BIG HOTEL (IN ADMINISTRATION) LTD, co-signed by the administrators

b) The administrators themselves

c) The new management company, appointed by the administrators.

6.  You need to treat the debt owed to you by BIG HOTEL (IN ADMINISTRATION) LTD and BIG HOTEL LTD as two separate things, if you are like me, you will probably be well down the pecking order for getting paid but you might agree to settle the balance for less.  The Government and the Banks will always get their money first, thats just the way it is.

7.  Chill out, follow the process and be happy.  It is in everyone’s best interest for the company to survive, do your part to make it happen!

Russell

From Hotel Chatter’s 2011 Wi-Fi report

Bitbuzz Celebrates Continued Expansion in the UK as it Announces its Fiftieth Hotspot

April 2011:

Bitbuzz, Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator and an independent Irish-owned business is today celebrating its fiftieth hotspot in the UK. Bitbuzz announced their expansion into the UK market in June 2010 following on from the success of its Irish operation. Since then they have shifted their focus to the London market, and have successfully piloted their Wi-Fi product in a number of hotels in the Kensington area.

Bitbuzz are now looking to recruit three staff to help expand their operations in the hugely competitive UK market.

Russell McQuillan, Business Development Manger Bitbuzz, commented: “We are extremely proud of the progress we have made in the UK market. We currently have 29 hotel locations and 24 coffee brand locations across the UK; spanning London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Derry and Belfast. As a large proportion of the population are now connected either by smartphones or tablets, with this comes an increase in demand from consumers for reliable Wi-Fi access. As this demand continues, we are confident that we can keep the momentum going and continue to secure new Wi-Fi hotspots over the coming months.”

The leading Wi-Fi operator has injected much-needed competition into the UK Wi- Fi market. Amongst Bitbuzz’s key UK clients are Ibis Hotels, Elegant English Hotels, Travelodge, StayCity Apartments, Kensington Rooms, Ramada, KFC, Costa Coffee, and The Lough Erne Resort, the only AA International 5 star hotel in Northern Ireland. Earlier this year,

Bitbuzz announced operating figures for 2010 revealing continued growth in revenue and subscriber numbers. Bitbuzz experienced a 17% increase in revenue to €1.1 million in 2010 (€938,000 in 2009). The company had a total of 355,590 registered users by the end of December, a year-on-year increase of 65% in registered users.

(Ends)

Issued on behalf of Bitbuzz by Heneghan PR Media Contact: Heneghan PR Louise McNamee / Sorcha Mullis Tel: (01) 660 7395 Email: louise@hpr.ie / sorcha@hpr.ie Web: www.hpr.ie About Bitbuzz Founded in 2003,

Bitbuzz is Ireland’s leading Wi-Fi network operator, providing High Speed Wireless Internet Access services to roaming partners, location owners and direct users. Bitbuzz is the only wholly-owned Irish telecoms company focused entirely on the Wi-Fi market. The Bitbuzz Wi-Fi service enables users with a Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the need for any cables or wires. Bitbuzz currently has over 260 Wi-Fi hotspots and over 7,000 hotel bedrooms in its network in Ireland and the UK, with further expansion planned for 2011 to meet growing demand. For more information visit www.bitbuzz.com

How it took two British security ‘experts’ is totally beyond me, one of the iPhones key features in the ability to attach your location to many of the phones services, twitter, email and the facebook are a few. Photos can be ranked by location and the handy thing about google maps is it ability to guide you to your location based on where you are right now.

Of course, the ability to track a devise this is nothing new, Apple have just created some magical way if tracking people’s location, they just made the technology similar for the average person to use. Mobile Phone networks have been able to track user locations since the dawn of the mobile phone through the slightly complex yet simple method of triangulation, a measurement of the distance the devise sits between 3 masts giving a nearly pin-point accuracy.

The benefits for missing persons and for fighting terrorism far out way the nay sayers and privacy campaigners weak arguments.

It’s quite simple, if your a drug dealer, terrorist or having an affair and you don’t want to be found out – bin your phone (sorry if this inconveniences your life). If your a normal person with nothing to hide then stop crying, no one is that interested in your life location anyway.

Channel 4 last year lost the franchise for Big Brother, or rather they binned it after ratings dropped to an all time low of just 7.4% of TV viewing but it’s far from dead, it was thought for a while in media circles that perhaps a digital channel would pick it up, a channel that could only dream of 7.4% of TV viewings and with no one putting their names in the hat, Richard Desmond wanted it for the newly bought jewel in his crown….. Channel 5, a channel always dubbed with being the poor relation.

So what can he do that is different?  Well apart from giving the show a much needed shake up and face lift what Richard can do is offer companies a cross platform sponsorship deal across not only Channel 5 but his over media outlets as well, such as his news papers and the elusive OK! magazine.

The other thing Richard has on his side is the secret P’s, hailed as the savor of ad revenue in the states……. Product Placement, now legal in the UK companies can pay to have the contestants were their clothes, sit of their couch and drink their coffee, in true truman show ‘everything on the show is for sale’

Richard has set the sales team of Channel 5 and his media companies a tough target, a target of £25million in series one of the new show, a target which will add more that 10% of Channel 5′s revenue and in this market, that’s not to shabby.

I can’t wait!  Now, how much will Davina cost?

This letter arrived in my maibox this morning, I must say as spam mail and nutcase hair-brained idea’s go…… this is actually pretty good!

===

Dear Mr Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing the UK ‘s economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money
on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them £1
million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire – ten million job openings – unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car. Ten million cars ordered – car Industry
fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – housing crisis
fixed

4) They MUST send their kids/grandkids to school/college/university – Crime
rate fixed

5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week…..and there’s your
money back in duty/tax etc

6) Instead of stuffing around with the carbon emissions trading schemes that
makes us pay for the major polluters, tell the greedy b***ards to reduce
their pollution emissions by 75% within 5 years or we shut them down.

It can’t get any easier than
that!

And if more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their
falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know.

If not, please disregard.

Grumpies of the World
Unite…

This morning hundreds of more people were delayed getting to work because of a hoax bomb on the M1.  It won’t stop me living here, it won’t stop me doing business across the island, it won’t stop me raising my family in this wonderful country.

They must not win, we cannot allow them to win!

If you are stuck in traffic or your journey is delayed because of these people, don’t let it get you down, take some time to enjoy the scenery surrounding you, take some time to talk to the person stuck in the car next to you.  Don’t let it get you down, don’t let it anger you because if you do, they win.

We need to stand united against these people, we need a United Ireland, that is an Ireland that is United in standing up against these people.

Watch this video Ruth has put together to learn more about how you can make your stand!

Send your photo to : notinmynamevid@gmail.com , about now is good!