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Press Releases
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ signs deal with Wi-Fi operator The Cloud to extend public access to online content
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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has become the first UK broadcaster to have all of its online content made available free via Wi-Fi, it was announced today by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director of Future Media & Technology Ashley Highfield.
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The non-exclusive venture enables the public to access all bbc.co.uk content for free through the UK's largest network of hotspots, operated by The Cloud.
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The 7,500 hotspots are located at a multitude of locations across the UK, including McDonald's, Coffee Republic and BAA airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted), as well as a number of outdoor locations including Canary Wharf and the City of London.
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Users will be able to access bbc.co.uk via an interactive video highlighting a range of content available or via a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ logo, both of which are located on The Cloud's landing site.
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Ashley Highfield said: "We're delighted to be partnering with The Cloud in what we hope is the first of many such partnerships across the UK. This is a new environment for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and one which we believe will be hugely important for our future success.
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"This venture enables us to offer free Wi-Fi access to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ content on the high street, furthering the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s commitment to make its content as widely available as possible to our audiences wherever they are. For instance, they can catch up on Strictly Come Dancing while having a caffe latte in Coffee Republic."
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Owen Geddes, Group Director of Business Development at The Cloud, added: "Wi-Fi is emerging as the technology of choice for media and content owners wanting to extend their reach beyond traditional channels.
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"The explosion of media-capable devices, coupled with the high bandwidth and low cost Wi-Fi offers, means high-quality video and audio can be delivered to people wherever they are. The Cloud is leading the market, working with visionary thinkers like the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, in bringing content over wireless broadband to the mass market." Ìý
In this initial phase, visitors to bbc.co.uk via The Cloud network will be able to view ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ content on all Wi-Fi compatible devices.
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However, users will only be able to download programmes from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer via a laptop. Ìý
In due course it is expected that the service will be available via mobile phones and other smart handheld devices.
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