WiFi Metro Creates One of the Largest Wireless Internet Service Providers In the U.S

WiFi Metro, Inc., San Francisco Bay Area's premier wireless Internet service provider (W-ISP), announces the launch of its wireless network. With a network of over 40 locations, also known as "hotspots," it has one of the largest W-ISP footprints in the United States. The footprint is currently concentrated in the Bay Area, and 50 more hotspots nationwide are slated to deploy by the end of 2002. Today's announcement increases the reach of hotspots available to road warriors who need high speed Internet access while away from home or office.


WiFi Metro's objective is getting users unplugged and hooked on its new, cutting edge service. Silicon Valley veteran Guy Kawasaki of Garage Technology Ventures and WiFi Metro user agrees, "It can't get much cooler than going to a cafe, turning on your laptop, and accessing the Internet for less than $20 per month." WiFi Metro's subscription plan gives users unlimited monthly access at any of its locations and is an excellent value, especially compared to wired services.

True Mobile Computing

WiFi Metro's wireless service enables users to be truly mobile, resulting in increased productivity throughout the day. "I'm happy the number of wireless locations available to me is growing. Away from the office most of the week, I use WiFi Metro to email and send proposals, thereby clearing my inbox throughout the day," said Kile Ozier, a WiFi Metro customer. "The high speed connection is faster than dial up and I don't need to look for a phone jack."

Employers are also looking for ways to increase the productivity of employees, and hotspots are perhaps the next evolution of the "hotel workspace" and virtual office trends. "Increasing the effectiveness of our employees is critical to our business and WiFi Metro is a perfect tool to use while on the road to send time-sensitive documents and improve response times," says Charly De Koning, Everwatt CEO, a Sunnyvale California hydrogen fuel-cell startup.

Convenient Locations

At any of its locations, WiFi Metro's wireless Internet service provides speeds of up to that are 200 times faster than 56k dial-up connections. WiFi Metro hotspots are located in convenient cafes, restaurants, and hotels throughout the Bay Area and will provide subscribers the ability to roam at hundreds of locations throughout the United States.

"We're aggressively building a wireless network that provides users with convenient, high-speed Internet access to help them extend computing capabilities beyond the workplace," said Arturo Pereyra, WiFi Metro's General Manager. "Our hotpots are near strategic business corridors so business people can access the Internet wirelessly using their own laptop or PDA to email, download presentations, access corporate intranets, or send sales orders while on the road."

Based on the 802.11b International standard, also known as "Wi-Fi," hotspots have sprung up throughout the U.S. in cafes, airports and hotels. 802.11 is one of the fastest growing technology segments with a 2001 market size of $1.2 billion and is estimated to grow to $4.6 billion by 2005, according to a study by MDR/Instat.

Users can signup online for wireless Internet by visiting a WiFi Metro location or through the website, www.WiFiMetro.com. A complete list of locations is also available on the site.

About WiFi Metro

WiFi Metro, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is currently incubated by ComVentures, a leading venture capital firm. WiFi Metro's mission is to create a wireless Internet network that enables true mobile computing. The Company is committed to helping on-the-go users stay productive and up to date without the hassles of telephone cords and jacks, slow connections or being dependent on their work or home environments for their computing needs. For more information call 650-289-4338 or visit www.WiFiMetro.com.

NewsWire-less Home

---

Does your company have a solution, news, event, or scoop that WDN should know about?
Send details to editors@wirelessdevnet.com