A new U.S. survey says that 54 percent of travelers who cannot get strong cell phone reception at a hotel may never return. And assuming they have the decision-making power, that same basic sentiment applies to office buildings, meeting facilities - and even hospitals and medical centers.

The recent study was commissioned by Repeated Signal Solutions (RSS) (www.repeatedsignal.com), one of the nation's providers of in-building cell and wireless antenna systems. It was conducted among 1,000 adults by a national independent research firm.

Respondents were asked if they would consider switching allegiances after receiving poor or no cell phone reception with all else being equal. Responses ran as high as 57 percent for hotel visitors of certain age and income categories.

"In just two years, we've seen a sea change to dependency on cellular hand-held devices among business professionals and consumers, whether they're at the office, on the road, or at home," said Scott Groff, president of Repeated Signal Solutions, which solves cell phone reception issues for large corporations, including those in the hospitality and health care industries.

"Cell phone connectivity has become so critical to business competitiveness that lost calls due to poor reception can mean much more than frustrating conversations. It can mean millions of dollars lost in business deals or lack of repeat business," Groff said. "When the 35-54 age group was combined with those earning an annual income of $50,000-$100,000, the overall numbers skewed higher than the national average in every location category," he added.

Those Who Would Consider Switching

Overall Responses
Hotel: 54%
Office Building: 48%
Meeting Facility: 45%
Medical Center/Hospital: 36%

Age 35-54
Hotel: 57%
Office Building: 49%
Meeting Facility: 52%
Medical Center/Hospital: 35%

Annual Income of $50k - $100k
Hotel: 57%
Office Building: 54%
Meeting Facility: 51%
Medical Center/Hospital: 40%

The U.S. study was based on telephone interviews with 1,000 respondents 18 years of age or older and had an overall margin of error of ± 3%.

Groff said that tenants are demanding cell phone friendly office space so that they are instantly reachable for calls and text messages through such devices as the BlackBerry® and iPhones. "Executives support this because they realize that accessing their more mobile teams is conducive to increased productivity," he said.

A Key to Patient Safety
"For doctors, wireless connectivity is correlated directly to patient health. Whether physicians are collaborating quickly with medical specialists, patients or staff for critical information, hospitals are increasingly supporting them with strong cell and wireless reception," Groff said. He stated that technology is revolutionizing health care so much today that many mobile medical devices can be tracked instantly through wireless locators.

Groff added that strong cell phone coverage contributes greatly to patient satisfaction, as both the patient and loved ones are able to communicate freely. He said, "Assuming respondents could keep their own doctors, 40 percent of those earning $50k-$100k would even consider switching medical facilities."

Supports WiMAX, Newer Technologies
"Previously, wireless services were installed in buildings as separate units on a piecemeal basis. Now companies are choosing a single infrastructure of in-building wireless systems that can support multiple current and future wireless technologies. For example, 4G and WiMAX are optimized by strong signals, which our wireless systems facilitate," Groff concluded.

About Repeated Signal Solutions
Repeated Signal Solutions (RSS) is a national provider of in-building cell and wireless antenna systems. Based in Santa Barbara, Calif., RSS designs and installs wireless systems that enable cell phone, 2-way radio, Wi-Fi/WiMAX, and public safety radio reception within buildings. The company serves such industries as hospitality, health care, commercial development and financial services, among others. Visit Repeated Signal Solutions at www.repeatedsignal.com.

About the Author
Scott Groff is President of Repeated Signal Solutions.

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