Austin's wireless Internet community will no longer be limited to a few coffee shops, office buildings and restaurants.
Austinites on Monday will be able to access the Internet "on the bus, in the park and on the street corner," said Jimmy Duvall, a spokesman for Verizon Wireless.
Verizon Wireless announced Wednesday the Austin launch of its new third-generation wireless broadband. Third generation will allow wireless data transfer through the Internet and e-mail. The access will be acquired through Verizon's cell phone towers.
"We need to build next-generation technology," said Jason Ford, manager of economic development for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. "We've reaffirmed Austin's momentum and leadership in wireless."
Austin's high-tech and forward-thinking community makes it a "natural" place to jump start Verizon's WiFi plans, Duvall said.
Austin is the first and only city in Texas where Verizon is offering the product, he added.
Service will cover the greater Austin area, including South Austin, Cedar Park and Round Rock.
"This makes us much more mobile," said Carolyn Stark, president of Austin Technology Council.
A Verizon wireless Internet card costs an estimated $250 before any rebates or contracts. Unlimited connectivity costs about $80 per month, Duvall said.
But some say they will be unwilling to pay for wireless Internet when it is widely available for free.
"It's a huge waste of money," said Jeremiah Fugit, a history junior, who spends most of his three hours between classes at Metro on Guadalupe Street surfing the free wireless Internet offered there. "I get wireless for free and drink a cup of coffee at the same time. Why would I pay so I could get wireless Internet, especially as a UT student, because it's all over campus?"
Austin's free wireless Internet areas, commonly referred to as hot spots, include Starbucks, Schlotzsky's, Metro, Spider House Cafe and Flightpath Coffeehouse.
Wireless is also available in and around many University buildings and libraries.
During the day, many people study and use the wireless Internet at Spider House, according to Melisa Geaslim, manager of the campus-area coffeehouse. Around 25 percent of customers are using it at any given time, she said.
"I think that we've certainly picked up in customers since we've offered wireless Internet," Geaslim said. "It's a discernible difference."
Duvall said he doesn't consider these hot spots competition.
"Our target market is the mobile professional, someone who needs access all the time," Duvall said.
These people will be "paying for convenience," he added.
Other cities have already been working toward a wireless community. Corpus Christi offers 20 square miles of free wireless access, and officials there hope to expand the service to 147 square miles, according to the city's Web site.
"I think it's a great tool," Austin Mayor Will Wynn said. "A lot of folks in Austin can take advantage of it."
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