ZDNet, an online technology and business publication, released an excellent article this month: "Ten Tips for Preparing a Wi-Fi Rollout" by Debra Littlejohn Shinder. Shinder elaborates on the following 10 points, which can be found on ZDNet's web site.

1. Determine who will use your wireless network
2. Define the purpose(s) of your wireless network
3. Determine bandwidth needs
4. Compare wireless standards
5. Consider coverage issues
6. Address interference issues
7. Choose a wireless-equipment vendor
8. Select the best security mechanisms
9. Ensure that IT personnel are trained to maintain your WLAN
10. Conduct a pilot programme before rollout

Of course, WEBbeams is always happy to help you understand wireless standards, security mechanisms, and other issues you'll read about. Just give us a call at 1.888.932.2326 or check us out online.

Boing Boing, the fifth most popular blog in the world according to Technorati, recently posted a video interview with US Barista Champion Kyle Glanville, who competed in the World Barista Competition in late June. Granville tells about the competition and shows how to make a killer cup of espresso - at the wonderful Intelligentsia coffee shop. Part one of the video series features Intelligentsia's Silverlake location in Los Angeles. We're proud to have this location as well as Intelligentsia's three Chicago coffee shops as part of the WEBbeams network.

Text messaging seems to have moved far beyond the "OMG" abbreviating teen stereotype. FEMA announced a new system to alert affected Americans in time of a national emergency (according to FEMA, e-mail is too slow and unreliable and phone calls to everyone seemed unreasonable). Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have all said they'd agreed to participate, and FEMA has agreed that customers can choose to opt out of emergency messages (natural disasters, terrorist attacks, Amber alerts, etc.). In other text messaging news, Ascom, an elevator manufacturer, says its new elevators will automatically alert a repairperson if an elevator gets stuck. Domino's Pizza in the U.K. is accepting orders by text message. And, Google put in a patent application for a new SMS text message payment system.