I have to admit, I was at first a little star struck by Frank Eliason. After all, as the person who established a new customer support paradigm on Twitter for Comcast, he’s a celebrity among the Twitterati. But when I met Frank at BlogWorld last month, he was just as nice as can be. The next time I saw him, he was leading a conference panel about customer support via social media. I’ve been a fan ever since. 

A lot has changed since Frank first introduced the concept of customer service on Twitter in April of 2008.  Now, many companies (including Boingo) view Twitter, Facebook, etc. as important channels for interacting with valued customers. See what you started, Frank?

Unsurprisingly, Frank travels a good deal. Below are a few of this travel tips:

• When you travel, what is the one item you always take with you?
  I can’t narrow it down to just one item! I always pack the same things:  iPhone, Netbook, laptop, wireless cards, toiletries and clothes. With all my electronics, you may not want to stand behind me in the security line, but rest assured I tend to be fast.

• What are you listening to your on your iPod these days?
  I am mainly into Billy Joel but am also listening to a Grammys CD that goes through all the years of the Grammys.

• What is your favorite city in the world and why?
  My favorite city is Venice.  I went there for my honeymoon and also after our daughter passed away.  During my honeymoon, I marveled over the city’s uniqueness. During our last visit, I also grew to appreciate the people, their spirit, and their generosity.

• What is your favorite dining spot in the world?
  There is a restaurant on top of the Hotel Danieli in Venice that has the most amazing view.  I highly recommend it.  Food is good too!  I hope to get back there some day.

• Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?
  I did not stay there, but during my last trip to Vegas I spent a lot of time at the Encore.  I am not a gambler, but I have to say I really enjoyed the restaurants and ambiance of the place.

• What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?
  Tallinn, Estonia.  I just loved that place.  It was amazing to see on one side, the Soviet-era housing and on the other side, a quaint older city that was thriving.

Frank, when you’re ready, please share with us the deets on your next pioneering project!

Even the best optimists have to admit that life can be hard. Work and family obligations leave us little time to take care of the necessary details in life – bills, appointments, birthday presents, phone calls, etc. If only personal assistants weren’t just for the rich and famous…

Well, I’ve got news for you: it is possible to have a personal assistant without being a glamorous movie star. Recently, I learned about a company, AskSunday, that offers various online personal assistant packages starting as low as $37 per month. What can a virtual secretary accomplish for you? Turns out, plenty! Tasks include:

• Booking appointments (doctors, salons) and reservations (restaurants, hotels)
• Coordinating travel plans
• Making calls (clients, vendors, your mama )
• Doing online research and reading emails
• Entering and analyzing data
• Ordering flowers, books, and gifts

With the 24/7 Service, you can have an assistant at your beck and call, day and night (hmmm, wonder if it’s possible to request a lullaby over the phone during those nights of insomnia). Another service,  Dedicated Assistants, allows you  email or phone access to an assistant from 10:30AM EST to 7:30PM EST, Monday thru Friday. With this kind of help, you might actually have some leisure time to dedicate to just YOU.

It’s very exciting that AskSunday has made personal assistants affordable to the masses. But what will blow your mind is that they’re actually giving away a 3-month personal assistant package – absolutely free! All you have to do is tell us why YOU (boohoo, poor you) would benefit from a little help from an AskSunday virtual secretary. Submit your entry via Boingo’s Facebook or Twitter page.

This holiday season, Boingo and Google have cooked up a little something to take the edge off your travel excursions: the gift of airport Wi-Fi. That’s right: from November 10th to January 15th, you can access complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi at select airports in the U.S. (see list below).  This limited time offer is brought to you by Google, a premier sponsor of Boingo’s Sponsored Wi-Fi Access program. Our sponsorship program benefits everyone involved by allowing:

• Travelers to enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi
• Sponsors such as Google to have the opportunity to interact with potential customers
• Airports to preserve non-airline revenue needed to offset decreasing airline-related revenue

Love is all around!

Here is a list of participating airports:

1. Austin (AUS)
2. Baltimore (BWI)
3. Billings (BIL)
4. Buffalo (BUF)
5. Bozeman (BZN)
6. Des Moines (DSM)
7. El Paso (ELP)
8. Greensboro (GSO)
9. Houston Airports – Hobby (HOU)
10. Houston Airports – Bush (IAH)
11. Kalamazoo (AZO)
12. Louisville (SDF)
13. Memphis (MEM)
14. Milwaukee (MKE)
15. Monterey (MRY)
16. Nashville (BNA)
17. Newport News (PHF)
18. Norfolk (ORF)
19. Oklahoma City (OKC)
20. Portland, Maine (PWM)
21. South Bend (SBN)
22. Toledo (TOL)
23. Traverse City (TVC)
24. State College (UNV)
25. Spokane (GEG)
26. St. Louis (STL)

Have a safe and happy holiday season. Merry Wi-Fi!

Read the Google press release here.

Read the Boingo press release here.

“So, do you get to play a lot of video games?”’

That’s the question I recently put to Maria Stipp, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Owned Properties division of Activision Blizzard (the company behind such hits as Guitar Hero, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and more).  Her answer? “I wish I could say my thumbs were worn out from playing video games.  But unfortunately my thumbs take far more abuse from my Blackberry.”

She puts the Blackberry to good use out of the office, too.  An active globetrotter, Maria logs nearly 100,000 miles annually meeting with developers all over the world.  Here are a few of her travel tips:

• When you travel, what is the one item you always take with you?
  Aside from my Blackberry, I always bring dress shoes. Once I forgot them and had to wear running shoes with my new suit to a senior customer meeting.  Not a great look.
• What are you listening to your on your iPod these days?
  This assumes I have the time to listen to music.  I have three year-old twins – you do the math!
• What is your favorite dining spot in the world?
  Currently, I’m loving Pizzeria Mozza in LA.  Nancy Silverton’s crust is amazing.  I love the Bacon, salami, fennel sausage, pancetta, tomato and mozzarella pizza.  And their Brussels sprouts, when they’re in season, are phenomenal.
• Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?
  Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California. I can have a meeting AND get a two hour massage. Brilliant.
• Can you offer an insider travel tip or recommendation?
  Never give up on upgrades…ask at every airport and hotel. You have to A-S-K in order to G-E-T!
• What’s your best travel story?
  I met Michael Jordan at Chicago O’Hare airport two days before he beat the Jazz for the Championship win!

Thanks for the insider tips, Maria!

Joe Brancatelli, writer for Portfolio.com and veteran road warrior, shares his list of gadgets and services for making life out of the office more bearable.

• Flight Tracker: FlightStats, online and mobile versions
• Computer Manager: LogMeIn offers “Web-based remote computer access, support, and management”
• VoIP System: Skype for laptops and cell phones “obliterates the high cost of calling” during international travel
• Wi-Fi Roaming Service: you guessed it…Boingo Wireless! “The world is full of WiFi hotspots, but most of them are behind a confusing array of high-priced firewalls. Boingo vaults you over most of those walls at a fair price: $9.95 a month for unlimited access in North America or $59 a month for unlimited global access.“
• Portable Power System: $90 everwhereMax Laptop Charger
• Plug Adapter: Universal World Travel AC Adapter with USB Power Port
• External Drive:  OWC Mercury (doesn’t require AC adapter) or eGo Portable hard drive (stylish)

Read the entire article here.

Introducing  Dr. Enoch Choi, a Family Medicine partner in urgent care at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. In his spare time, Enoch is a prolific blogger, a clinical instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine, a volunteer at the Community Pregnancy Center of Mountain View, a member on various boards including the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Medical Missions, an advisor for venture firms, a doting father, a dedicated husband, and a fantastic  karaoke singer. This is far from an exhaustive list of all the things that make up Dr. Enoch Choi. That’s why “Renaissance Man” is an apt description for him.

Recently, Dr. Choi spoke  about the H1N1 virus (”swine flu”),  emphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated. Even if you rarely get sick and don’t usually get the flu shot, he says, this year is the time to do it. People who are  most vulnerable to H1N1? Pregnant women, those with already compromised immune systems, young children,  and travelers.

That’s right, you globetrotters! Even if you’re as  healthy as a horse, get vaccinated because on the road, you’re exposed to a considerable amount of germs, including H1N1. To listen to Dr. Choi’s entire chat, please click here.

Meanwhile, we delved into one of Enoch’s many pastimes: traveling. Here are a few of his travel tips:

1. Is there a gadget you can’t live without?

The iPhone.

2. When you travel, what is the one item you always take with you?
I always pack a corkscrew.

3. What is your favorite city in the world and why?
Singapore because it’s multicultural, clean, affordable, accessible, and a gateway to Southeast Asia.

4. What is your favorite dining spot in the world?
The hawker stalls in Singapore.

5. What book is on your nightstand?
Testosterone for Life by Abraham Morgentaler.  

6. What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?
Poyang hu, in the Jiang Su Province of China.

7. Can you offer an insider tip or recommendation for your favorite vacation place?
Get unlimited data / wi-fi access for wherever you’re going. I confess: I’m a big Boingo Wi-Fi fan.

Thanks, Dr.  Renaissance Man! Keep saving the world!

You asked for it, and we’ve delivered! Boingo Mobile, our Wi-Fi service for mobile devices and smartphones, is now available on the Blackberry® Curve 8900, Blackberry Curve 8320 and BlackBerry® Bold.

For just $7.95 per month, Boingo Mobile gives you a high-speed alternative to cellular data so you surf the Internet, download large files, upload pictures, and stream video — all on your Blackberry. Usage is unlimited and you can connect all over the globe. That’s right, surf to your heart’s content while you travel for business or pleasure and save on international roaming costs.

To get Boingo Mobile, first download our free login software directly to your Blackberry. The software tells you when you’re in a Boingo hotspot and automatically connects you. Next, sign up via the software; or alternatively sign up on a PC.

We’re constantly working to expand our portfolio of smartphone support, which now includes the Android™, iPhone®, Symbian™ Series 60, and Windows Mobile™ platforms. We know how much y’all love those mobile devices of yours!

To download the free Boingo software for Blackberry, click here.

To download Boingo software for other mobile devices, click here.

To sign up for Boingo Mobile Wi-Fi for your Blackberry, click here.

Read the press release here.

In support of cancer awareness in general (October is Breast Cancer Awareness month), we interviewed survivor extraordinaire, Meaghan Edelstein.

Two years ago, at age 28, Meaghan was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer and told her chances of survival were slim. But she waged a victorious battle against the illness and then went on to establish  Spirit Jump, a “grassroots non-profit organization with a mission to provide hope and comfort” to those battling cancer. During her own ordeal, Meaghan was so comforted by the “uplifting cards and inspirational gifts” that she has duplicated this experience for other cancer victims through Spirit Jump.

Meaghan, yours is a remarkable story of survival against the odds and we toast to your continued health! Good luck as you travel around the globe dispensing comfort to others battling cancer.

Here are a few of Meaghan’s travel tips:

1. Is there a gadget you can’t live without?

I cannot live without my iPhone! Spirit Jump runs 100% through social media and email. We have people all over the world trying to connect with us and that means at all hours of the day.  With my iPhone I can stay connected no matter where I am or what I am doing.

2. What is your favorite city in the world and why?

I LOVE Boston. It’s a city full of history and full of life. I received my cancer treatments at Dana Farber Cancer Institute so there is a very special place in my heart for Boston.

3. What is your favorite dining spot in the world?

What a hard question to answer! There are so many great places and I think each city has a specialty.  I just got back from Vegas and ate at a fabulous restaurant in the Venetian called Zeffirino.

4.  What book is on your nightstand?

One of my favorites books The Time Travelers Wife.

5. Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?

Las Vegas. I just got back and I have to say it was a blast! When I was diagnosed with cancer I thought I would never get to Vegas but I guess I proved myself wrong. It was a great city with wonderful food, shows and people!

6. What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?

St. Augustine,  Florida. I went on a short weekend vacation and had no expectations. My boyfriend and I had such a wonderful time there. It was absolutely beautiful, full of history, Tiffany crystals, ghosts and a wonderful winery. I can’t wait to go back. The Saragossa Inn in St. Augustine Florida was amazing!

Thanks, Meaghan!

If you’d like to support someone battling cancer through Spirit Jump, get more information here.

Have you ever used your phone and/or laptop while, ahem, using the restroom?   If you’re worried that chatting, texting, emailing, and surfing while on the can is socially unacceptable, then worry no more!

According to a recent Intel study on technology etiquette, 75% of U.S. survey responders feel “it is perfectly appropriate to use Internet-enabled devices, including laptops, netbooks and cell phones, in the bathroom.”  (Never mind the germs!)

But you’re not quite off the hook when it comes to mobile usage in public situations: 69% of respondents feel that “checking e-mails, sending text messages and making phone calls while in the company of others, are unacceptable.”

To be frank, I employ a mixed approach to mobile etiquette. I text and surf the Internet on my smartphone while in the company of friends, family, and colleagues. But I rarely answer phone calls while in the company of anyone (unless it’s an emergency), and I turn off my phone entirely when in a business meeting. However, I find it irritating to be in the company of people, including my friends, who constantly text, surf, and talk on their phones.

Clearly, we are in need of some hard, fast rules, and Anna Post — author and etiquette expert for the Emily Post Institute — agrees: “As technology continues to become more prevalent and play an integral role in our everyday lives, it becomes more challenging to discern appropriate behavior from potentially offensive behavior.”

Guide us, please, Ms. Post!

In the meantime, let’s make up our own rules. Which mobile usage scenarios are acceptable/unacceptable, normal/weird for you? Surfing the Internet on a date? Talking in the elevator? Texting in church?

Read about Intel’s survey here.

As I write this, I’m gorging on an Angus Third Pounder, large french fries, and large Coke from McDonald’s. The food is good, but it would be even more delicious if I had a shot at winning $1 million from the MONOPOLY^® Game at McDonald’s, which kicks off today and goes through November 2nd.

Unfortunately, I’m out of the running since Boingo Wireless is a game sponsor, precluding employees from participating. Alas. But YOU still have a chance to win any number of prizes including the already mentioned $1 million and other cash prizes, an Xbox, a Shell gas card, My Coke Rewards® points, and free Boingo^® Wi-Fi service at more than 11,000 Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s® restaurants in the U.S.

Mac Daddy!

In order to play, all you have to do is collect game pieces on medium and large drinks, large McCafe hot cups, hash browns, Angus Third Pounders, large french fries, and 10-piece and 20-piece chicken McNuggets.

What distinguishes the 2009 MONOPOLY^® Game at McDonald’s from other years is the ability to play through your mobile phone as well as social media channels. Enter game codes through text messages and Facebook, and receive updates on the “$1 Million Dice Roll” by following McDonald’s on Twitter at @McDonalds.

Note that in order to roll the dice on your latest game pieces, you have to go online at www.playatmcd.com. So consider bringing your smartphone or laptop to a Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s and connect to Boingo^® Wi-Fi for that lucky roll!

If you win either the $1 million prize or a Boingo^® Access Pass, don’t be shy about boasting! Send us a Tweet, Facebook post, or blog comment and tell us all about it!

Read the game rules here.

Good luck, and may the best McPerson win!