Telstra and Optus, involved in separate Wi-Fi network deployments, have said they intend to develop mobile technologies enabling seamless roaming between 3G mobile and Wi-Fi, the Australian reports. Telstra is installing Wi-Fi hotspots at 650 McDonalds restaurants across Australia, and Optus recently announced a partnership with hotspot provider Azure Wireless, to increase its network to 600 hotspots vs 120 at present. According to Ovum Asia-Pacific, Wi-Fi has failed to attract demand in Australia as a standalone business model. Chris Lane, Optus products and delivery director, does not consider Wi-Fi to be a great ‘standalone technology’. David Kaye, Telstra general manager for wireless hotspots, said ‘It's part of an integrated play from our perspective. We have a mobile broadband product that lets customers use mobile broadband and WiFi all within the same subscription’.
