News

Café Offers Free High Speed Access

A Washington, D.C., Internet café called CyberSTOP is offering free Wi-Fi access and hopes to make some money by renting computers with Wi-Fi cards to customers and by selling Wi-Fi cards.

by dc.internet.com Staff of internetnews.com [August 27, 2002]

CyberSTOP, a Washington, D.C., Internet café, is offering free high-speed wireless Internet service. The broadband wireless network, which utilizes Wi-Fi (802.11b), can be used by anyone with a laptop or PDA using an industry-standard Wi-Fi card. While a number of Washington hotels and restaurants offer wireless hotspots, CyberSTOP is the first to offer free service.

The network offers speeds of up to 11 megabits per second, almost 200 times faster than the traditional 56 Kbps dial-up Internet access available on most wireless networks. The service is available on CyberSTOP's two floors as well as its outdoor patio. The café also sells wireless network cards for users who do not have currently have one.

CyberSTOP does not require any proprietary software or downloads to use the free service. The café hopes to sell the service to mobile workers, who need access to fast Internet connections, and teleworkers and freelancers, who are attracted to alternative work locations near their home office.

The café, located near Dupont Circle, also offers computer rentals with high-speed access.

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