It’s the wireless revolution (wireless fidelity, or WiFi, lets users connect to the Internet at high speeds without cables) and everyone’s getting behind this high-tech phenomenon.  But, we’re not just talking laptops and PDA’s anymore.  “Wi-Fi compatible” is starting to become a common description in more product specifications – like appliances, cell phones, printers, and stereos – as the technology is also used to connect such devices remotely.  Therefore, it’s no surprise the astounding number of businesses, such as Starbucks, that are becoming public Wi-Fi hotspots as a means to attract customers. Sunrise Management & Consulting, a third-party property management company headquartered in New York’s Capital Region, is one of these businesses embracing this hot commodity by adding wireless access to its amenity package.
For Sunrise Management & Consulting, the idea of creating a wireless community for its residents was spawned by several contributing factors.  Although the accelerated popularity of wireless technology played an important part, there were other factors that sparked the idea over a year ago.  The initial idea was to add some sort of high-speed Internet access since the Capital Region was quickly growing into a high-tech area, commonly referred to as “Tech Valley” by national business publications.
The initial idea originated from the various practices associated with Sunrise’s customer-driven, value-added philosophy.  The company constantly looks at the needs of the market and its existing residents for ways to enhance its properties.  According to Sunrise Management’s President Jesse Holland, it’s important to know who the renter is. The demographics of the typical apartment renter have changed so it’s not just college students and singles anymore.  There are a growing number of affluent professionals in the mix now. “The high-tech companies in this area are grooming tech-savvy employees so it’s important to keep pace with them,” Holland said.
Sunrise Management & Consulting also has an intimate understanding of the multi-family rental market in the northeastern part of the United States through its bi-annual market reports.  The company researches multi-family rental markets for competitive analysis and publishes the data for public use.
“Because of our Sunrise Rental Market Reports, we have an excellent understanding of what we’re competing against, as well as emerging industry trends,” Holland said.  “Our last report revealed an increased use of concessions, which could indicate that potential residents are shopping around more – all the more reason to be competitive with amenities.”
During discussions with different Internet service providers, Sunrise Management & Consulting was approached by Tech Valley Wireless, a wireless Internet service provider that provides wireless infrastructures to residential communities.  Tech Valley Wireless is a subsidiary of WiFiFee, LLC, which created the WiFiFee billing software that enables users to use their WiFi accounts at over 400 locations nationwide.
“Tech Valley Wireless’s presentation really opened our eyes to wireless,” said Sunrise Management’s VP of Operations Keith Flores.  “The wireless option had much more to offer than the traditional wired broadband connections.”
First, the cost to residents for Internet service is less expensive than competing broadband providers.  Plus, subscribers have access at over 400 WiFi hotspots in the U.S. with no roaming charges.
Secondly, with a wireless infrastructure, the benefits go far beyond just high-speed Internet access.  It creates a wireless community where residents can have wireless connectivity with their devices free of charge, or to the Internet with a paid subscription, in their kitchen, by the pool, or anywhere on the property.  With the proliferation of a new breed of wireless products in the marketplace, this was an important benefit to Sunrise Management & Consulting so it could accommodate residents who owned such WiFi compatible devices.
Furthermore, the wireless infrastructure is added with minimal physical change to the property. It entails an antenna connected to an ISP, which is mounted at a high point, usually on top of a building. The antenna beams a signal on a Federal Communications Commission radio spectrum to a user’s antenna that feeds it to a computer.
And lastly, with this specific Tech Valley Wireless program that Sunrise Management & Consulting chose, there are no out-of-pocket costs and Sunrise will receive 5% of the revenues generated from the Internet subscriptions.  Tech Valley Wireless customizes every contract according to the needs of the property owner or manager. Some of the other options presented included a higher upfront cost with a higher percentage of revenues received, or including Voice over IP, an inexpensive way to route phone calls over the Internet.  In the end, this is the program that suited Sunrise’s goals the best.
“Our primary goal from this partnership is to add another amenity as a benefit for our residents and differentiate the property with a competitive edge,” said Holland.  “We’re excited about this venture and look forward to continuing our efforts to provide new and innovative ways to meet the demands of the rental market.”