Boingo photo contest targets wireless hotspots

Are you a hotspot hotshot?

More accurately, are you a digital snapshooter with who can tackle such topics as travel, technology, happiness, and yes even a specific brand of Wi-Fi hotspots, and raise them to new creative heights with a bit of photo artistry?

If so, Boingo Wireless invites you to take part in a digital photo contest that runs through July 22nd and focuses on the best amateur efforts across these four subject themes. Entries can be uploaded to the Boingo blog, where the public can view and vote on the best entries in each of the four categories - including the more than 125,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide. Each photographer can submit up to two photos, each in a separate category.

Once the popular vote ends on July 22, the top three photos in each category will be judged by a panel of professional photographers, who will choose a winner in each category. Each winner will be awarded a WiFi-enabled Samsung CL80 digital camera pre-loaded with three months of complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi. The CL80 features a 14.2 megapixel sensor, HD video recording capability, and a touch panel LCD.

"We're looking for snapshots that best represent Boingo hotspots, technology, travel and happiness," said Dawn Callahan, vice president of marketing for Boingo Wireless.

The CL80 is not Samsung's first foray into WiFi-equipped cameras. Last year, the company unveiled the CL65 point-and-shoot, which boasts WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as geo-tagging support.

The market for WiFi-enabled cameras and entertainment devices is also growing by leaps and bounds. Shipments of WiFi-based entertainment devices - including digital cameras - is expected to grow from 108.8 million in 2009 to 177.3 million in 2013, notes market researcher In-Stat. Companies like Eye-Fi have even developed SD memory cards that provide built-in 802.11 wireless connectivity.

Complete details on the competition are available at the Boingo Wireless contest site. Boingo, and its Concourse Communications Group subsidiary, operate wired and wireless networks at 58 airports worldwide.