SUNNYVALE, Calif.-Wireless Internet access got a little easier in two Western U.S. cities with separate announcements this week.
AnchorFree Wireless launched free Wi-Fi service in the commercial segment of San Francisco’s Castro District. The hot spot, said to be one of the first such services among gay and lesbian communities, provides wireless indoor and outdoor access to the Internet along Castro Street.
Earlier this year, the Wi-Fi provider launched twin hot spots in the city’s Marina District.
“San Francisco’s Castro area is an ideal location to blanket with free wireless Internet access,” said David Gorodyansky, president of AnchorFree Wireless. “It is a tech-savvy district with lots of foot traffic and is filled with vibrant cafes, restaurants and bars.”
Meanwhile, California-based fixed wireless Internet service provider NextWeb launched wireless broadband service in Las Vegas. The subscription-based offering is available to 35,000 businesses in the metropolitan area, the company said, over its pre-WiMax network.
Services include high-speed Internet access at up to 100 million bits per second as well as NextWeb’s new VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) offering. Subscriptions start and $159 a month for up to 3Mbps.
“We consider several demographic factors when determining where to build out new markets, including number of businesses in the area, the types of industries that are present, and the rate of growth,” said Graham Barnes, NextWeb’s chief executive officer. “Las Vegas fits all of our criteria and will be a key part of our expansion strategy.”
