Our intrepid leader, Dave Hagan, graces the cover of this month’s CEA magazine, Vision. In the feature interview, Dave — a four-year veteran of CEA’s board — talks about the evolution of Boingo’s business model, his thoughts on the burgeoning use of Wi-Fi on consumer electronic devices (especially where the usage would overwhelm 3G), and his vision for Boingo’s current and future role in the CE ecosystem.

Some highlights:

• On Boingo’s key value proposition: “…we take advantage of the opportunity of Wi-Fi chips being embedded into every type of electronics product on the market by making it easier for people to get these devices connected…Boingo’s role in the ecosystem is to make it easy for consumers with these electronic products to get connected…quickly and simply.”
• On Boingo’s plans for network expansion: “The networks we own and operate are mostly in airports. We are expanding into other types of venues. We have done a couple of arenas recently and also are working on shopping malls.”
• On Wi-Fi advantage over cellular: “The teenager that goes to watch a video on a 3G network where there are a lot of other people doing similar things – there is just not enough bandwidth to do it well. Wi-Fi has a huge amount of bandwidth and very small cell sites, it’s a microcell. That is the magic of it. You can’t over-power it physically because the cell is so small only so many people can get in that small of a space vs. a cell tower covering miles. You can obviously over-load a sector of a cell site pretty easily.”
• On the culture at Boingo: “Our people work hard. They spend a lot of time at the office…if you spend a lot of time doing something, it had better be fun. We have contests and do creative things to keep people excited…it’s about smart people and good ideas.”

We’re beaming with pride. Way to go, boss (and not a bad picture, either)!

Read the entire article here.

iPad Penetration Doubles Previous Second Place Mobile Device

Shocked. That may be the only word to describe our disposition after looking at updated web analytics for our managed network of hotspots. Within four days of release, the iPad has moved into second place among non-laptop devices, more than doubling the traffic of Android phones, and eclipsing the volume of devices from Blackberry and Windows Mobile.

The iPhone took significantly longer to make this kind of impact when it was released in 2007, and the radical growth it experienced didn’t take off until the 3G edition was launched a year later (at a significantly lower price).

The release is 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!

Today is one of the first airport posts – places and things to do when you’re waiting for your flight.

At the Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport, there are a few places travelers can get away from the crowds and relax.

The first is the “quiet seating area” that lines the somewhat hidden upper decks of the main passenger shopping area called The Mall.  If passengers take the steps or an elevator to the second level along The Mall, they’ll find – on either side, hidden from view – dozens of couches, chairs and tables for relaxation.

At the far end of The Mall is MSP’s most glamorous full service restaurant – Ike’s – and above Ike’s is another hidden area travelers can relax and work on their laptops or take a snooze.  If travelers have more work to get done or want to hold a meeting, a conference call, etc., the airport has a a large conference center above Chili’s Too restaurant on The Mall.  It’s a full service conference center that can accommodate 1 to 100 people.

As told by Kathleen Bangs, Manager of Marketing, Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport.