There was a time not long ago when taking a vacation meant leaving the trappings of office and the nagging shackle it imposed. Leaving the phone calls and emails behind allowed somewhat of a techno-decompression from our increasingly interconnected world. No phones, computers, paperwork to worry about.

As the Internet became more of a "take it with you" commodity with laptops and PDAs it slowly crept into the way we enjoyed our leisure time. Vacationers pack laptops as readily as swimsuits and sunscreen. Moreover, having the ability to connect back to work allowed some the simple rationale to be able to leave the office and get away – as long as they were connected.

But for all of the advances in Internet speed and broadband access such as cable modem and DSL connections most of us relegated to hotel rooms or condos were left with slow dial-up connections if we were lucky, connecting through PBX systems was almost a showstopper.

Increasingly, multi-unit condominiums and hotels are beginning to retool their units with broadband access, an acknowledgment of the increasing demand for more robust access, which has taken on similar importance as room service.

"The multi-unit market presents carriers with strong growth opportunities. There are over 22 million U.S. households that reside in residential multiple dwelling units and on average they spend over $130 per month on voice, video and Internet access," said Imran Khan, Senior Analyst of the Yankee Group, a consulting company specializing in analysis and research of international telecommunications. "The hospitality industry, which is comprised of nearly 4 million guest rooms across the U.S., further contributes to greater multi-unit broadband revenue potential as business travelers continue to demand faster, secure access to corporate networks."

Apex Technology Group Inc., in Destin Florida has found a unique methodology to address this demand without having to totally rewire the units. By using a the existing phone wire and a unique technology developed by Cisco company called Long-Reach-Internet, Apex is able to extend normal network capability over regular phone line wiring up to 5,000 feet. Coupled with Cisco’s proprietary Broadband Service Manager, Apex is able to offer a monthly residual for owners.

Jay Agnew is the CEO of Apex Technology Inc., and has integrated a unique revenue-generating model into their projects. "You can get on the Internet depending upon how the individual condominiums want to do it," says Agnew. "You can get charged per day or per block of time. All it takes is a credit card. Although the individual condo owners absorb the per month charge, the easy interface through a computer or laptop allows them to recoup their costs quickly. Agnew notes the increasing demand of tourists for high-speed Internet access as way to benefit both the condo owner as well as the condo visitor.

According to Apex Technology company literature the hospitality industry has basically been neglecting the Internet and the availability of quality technology to their tenants. The growth of this segment is expected to be phenomenal. Citing an industry analysis group, Cahners In-Stat Group, 5 percent of multi-tenant unit buildings currently provide broadband high-speed Internet services. That number is expected to increase from $370 million spent in 2000 to $4.8 billion in 2004.

The condominium association of The Breakers of Fort Walton realized the difficulty in rewiring a building built in the 70s and its $150,000 price tag and sought the non-invasive concept employed by Apex Technology. Effectively this made them their own Internet service provider according to Agnew.

Agnew eschewed the popular wireless methodology due to the way many multi-tenant units were built. Strict building codes for hurricane protection made the wireless option problematic according to Agnew. "You need so many network access points built close to each unit in order to get good connections," he stated.

To the Internet user he simply can plug his laptop in to an existing phone line, interface through a merchant interface screen, which accepts credit card information, and sign on to broadband access. According to Agnew, "the interface screen even leaves room for advertising potential."

As with so many other amenities that vacationers evaluate vacation locations, Internet connectivity has now become one of the criteria. So much so that the American Automobile Association includes Internet access in its ratings. With Apex Technology and its unique methodology leading the charge high-speed Internet connectivity presents an additional appeal for filling up vacation condominium units.

Scott Jackson

scott@mindlace.com