Ruckus Selected as the “Brand Standard” By Big EU Hotel Chain, Motorola Responds with New Tech

Ruckus announced its latest win at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) being held this week in Los Angeles. The hotel operation chain, Scandic Hotels, has already received 12,800 ZoneFlex™ access points across over 130 properties in 8 European countries from the wireless network solutions provider along with advanced WLAN management systems, according to MarketWatch.

Scandic has a history of using superior wireless technology and services to separate itself from the competition:

The first hotel chain in Europe to offer wireless Internet access in all its hotels free of charge, Scandic has long led the hospitality industry in delivering a best-in-class online experience to guests through the use of innovative new technology and systems.

As an explanation for going with Ruckus, Scandic CIO Martin Thell said “We needed a solution that could deliver the capacity, coverage and pervasive performance that a discerning clientele demands from any world-class hotel—and that’s exactly what we got.”

Swisscom Hospitality Services, the project lead for the massive implementation, echoes Thell’s sentiments:

Ruckus is now widely considered the gold standard for wireless hardware within the hospitality industry. Their innovative products have transformed Wi-Fi from a best effort guest service into a predictable, completely dependable guest offering.

I don’t know about you, but if I were a Wireless Network Solutions Provider competing with Ruckus in the hospitality space, I might be feeling a little left out right now. Trying to steal some of that spotlight away from Ruckus is Motorola Solutions, which announced on the same day a new 802.11AC capable Access Point specifically designed for hotels and resorts. Blandly dubbed the AP 7502, the new technology boasts the following not-so-bland capabilities, according to the Wall Street Journal:

The AP 7502 hides in plain sight, or blends in with the room décor, and can be installed in just a few minutes by snapping the wallplate AP over existing cabling and utilizing WiNG 5 zero-touch automatic configuration. With comprehensive micro-locationing support, including Bluetooth(R) SMART beacon technology, the AP 7502 enables enhanced interaction and engagement to provide guests with the information they want when they need it most.

Imran Akbar, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Networks & Communications at Motorola Solutions, explained the relevance of those benefits:

The AP 7502 from Motorola Solutions was built with the challenging hospitality environment in mind. The compact design makes it virtually invisible to guests while still providing the high-speed connection visitors look for when choosing a hotel or resort. Coupled with the AP 7522 and AP 7532, Motorola’s suite of 11ac access points gives customers value while maintaining the highest industry standards necessary for deploying a network in the hospitality market. Additionally, the portfolio is powered by WiNG 5, which remains an industry leader for highly distributed, intelligent, flexible and manageable enterprise-class Wi-Fi.

The two other Access Points Akbar mentioned, the AP 7522 and the AP 7532, are also new additions to the Motorola technology stable. The main selling point for these access points are their “unparalleled price-to-performance ratio,” while still maintaining “a full suite of enterprise-class performance and security features” and retaining the 7502’s ability to blend in with the surroundings.

Will that be enough to compete with the “gold standard” of Ruckus in hospitality? Motorola sure hopes so.

For MarketWatch’s piece on Ruckus and Scandic Hotels, click here.

For the Wall Street Journal’s piece on Motorola, click here.