DFW Airport Hosts Traveler TechFest For Airline Passengers

Air passengers at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport can try out the latest technology during a new Traveler TechFest.

The event, which kicked off Wednesday and continues through December, features demonstrations, displays, prizes, and freebies from Samsung, Apple, Sony, and Motorola. DFW hosted the event to show that it's one of the most technology-friendly airports in the world.

"Providing for the needs of our passengers is part of our airport culture and that of our concessionaires," Jeff Fegan, the airport's CEO at DFW, said in a statement. "We demand the best for our travelers, and this new concept to highlight our many technology amenities is bound to grow in future years."

Passengers can access one of two Wi-Fi services that cover a 7-million-square-foot area and a distributed antenna system that covers 18,000 acres. They can also use or visit eight Samsung Mobile Travel Centers, more than 2,100 power outlets, six PowerPort laptop rental, charge, and recharge kiosks, 31 tech shops, 14 automated Zoomsystem shops, 50 Neptune Network Internet Kiosks, two free ClearChannel power and Internet charging stations, one staffed Verizon Wireless kiosk, seven Samsung display kiosks, and a Shop24 automated convenience store. The airport's Grand Hyatt also offers guided iTaste iPod chocolate, cheese, and wine tours.

Brookstone will demonstrate products at International Terminal D, while wireless demonstrations will take place in terminals A and C. Other participating companies include, T-Mobile Power Station, Rosetta Stone, InMotion, Airport Wireless, and Neat Receipts.

Neat Receipts organizes receipts, business cards, and travel documents with scanning and software systems.

"We hear a lot of positive feedback from our sales associates about the educated consumers traveling through Dallas-Fort Worth, and it has been a successful sales channel," Rafi Spero, founder and COO of Neat Receipts said in a statement.

Verizon Wireless will give away a Panasonic Toughbook, a Blackberry 8830 World Edition, a wireless headset, and a $100 Verizon Wireless gift card. DFW representatives will distribute 6,000 Samsung egrips, which adhere to the backs of cell phones.

"DFW is acutely aware of the positive impact technology can bring to customer service," Matt Buscher, president and CEO of Power Station, said in a statement. "Our automated business-media download stations are the most technologically advanced kiosks in airports today. DFW management had the vision and foresight to place our Powerport stations in key locations throughout the airport in order to provide the services business and leisure customers expect."