Would you like Internet Service with your burger?

[TLK]

McDonald's to Offer Wireless Internet
The Associated Press
Mar 11 2003 12:09AM

NEW YORK (AP) - Would you like super-sized Internet access with that
burger and fries?

In a further sign of the spread of wireless Internet technology,
McDonald's restaurants in three U.S. cities will offer one hour of free
high-speed access to anyone who buys a combination meal.

Ten McDonald's in Manhattan will begin offering wireless WiFi, or
802.11b, Internet access on Wednesday, McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa
Howard said.

By year's end, McDonald's will extend the access to 300 McDonald
restaurants in New York City, Chicago and a yet-unannounced California
town, Howard said.

``You can come in and have an extra value meal and send some e-mail,''
Howard said. Window signs will alert customers to the restaurants with
WiFi access, she said.

Besides McDonald's, Internet surfers will also be able to tote their
laptops to 400 U.S. Borders book stores, hundreds of hotels and a pair
of U.S. airports where WiFi access will be available by summer,
companies announced Monday.

And computer maker Toshiba and chipmaker Intel say they'll set up
wireless ``hot spots'' in coffee shops, hotels and convenience stores
across the United States.

For those who roost with their laptops in McDonald's, Internet surfing
could affect the waistline.

After using the hour of free access that comes with a meal, customers
can pay $3 for another hour online - or simply buy another extra value
meal, Howard said. The pilot program lasts for three months, she said.

Cometa Networks, a startup working to offer WiFi connections in
businesses across the country, will provide the Internet bandwidth for
the offer.

McDonalds' announcement coincides with several related WiFi developments
timed to coincide with the Wednesday release of Intel Corp.'s Centrino
microprocessor.

The Centrino chip, tailored for laptop computers, contains a built-in
WiFi transceiver that allows Internet access at speeds of up to 11
megabits per second, far faster than dial-up connections. More than a
dozen computer makers will introduce new Centrino-based laptops on
Wednesday.

Hilton, Mariott, Sheraton, Westin and W hotels will tout wireless access
points in hundreds of hotels in the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom and Germany.

And access will also be extended to passenger lounges at the airports in
Dallas-Fort Worth and San Francisco, Intel said."

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Seems a little weird, but I could of seen it coming.

TLK

[kid_dynamite]

wow, thats re-goshdarn-diculous