Partners in Free WiFi Follow 'One Unwired Day with 'Every Unwired Day

The Partners in Free WiFi program is a partnership among non-profit and commercial organizations supporting the spread and usage of free WiFi hotspots within community businesses. Accordingly, September 26, 2003 has been designated by the Partners as Every Unwired Day."

AUSTIN (TX) -- (September 26, 2003) -- Intel Corporation designated yesterday, September 25, 2003 as One Unwired Day," during which several commercial for-pay" providers encouraged WiFi usage by waiving access fees for that day.

This is very generous of Intel, T-mobile, Cometa, Boingo, and the rest of the companies to grant a single free day," said Rich MacKinnon of the Austin Wireless City Project and founder of Less Networks. However, the Partners in Free WiFi want to remind everyone that every day is a free day."

The Partners in Free WiFi program is a partnership among non-profit and commercial organizations supporting the spread and usage of free WiFi hotspots within community businesses. Accordingly, September 26, 2003 has been designated by the Partners as Every Unwired Day."

The purpose of the counter-promotion is to raise the public's awareness of free WiFi alternatives. Many of the alternatives are offered by the owners of independent businesses, local computer user groups, and municipalities.

There are literally thousands of free hotspots around the world," says Jon Lebkowsky of the Austin Wireless City Project. In Austin in particular, there are scores of free hotspots. Why would anyone want to pay for WiFi when they could spend the money on another cup of coffee?"

According to market research firm IDC, there were 4,200 hot spots at the end of 2002 and there will be 55,000 more over the next five years. It's a good bet that most of those hotspots will be free," says MacKinnon.

Partners in Free WiFi participating organizations include Austin Wireless City Project, Austin Wireless Group, Austin Free-Net, EFF-Austin, and Less Networks. To join, contact Jon Lebkowsky of the Austin Wireless City Project at info@austinwirelesscity.org.

About Austin Wireless City Project

The mission of the Austin Wireless City Project is To EDUCATE, ADVISE,

ENABLE and ASSIST operators of public spaces in providing free wireless

hotspots to ALL residents of Austin and surrounding areas. The website is

http://www.austinwirelesscity.org/. The contact is Jon Lebkowsky at

info@austinwirelesscity.org

About Austin Wireless Group

The mission of the Austin Wireless Group is to bring together like minded

folks to discuss and brainstorm on ideas regarding future direction, and

network methodology, and set up a fully operational network maintained by

and for the community. The website is http://www.austinwireless.net/. The

contact is Dan Vogler at dan@wirehead.com

Austin Free-Net

Austin Free-Net's goal is to ensure that underserved communities can access

and effectively use the Internet and computer technologies in public spaces

throughout Greater Austin. The website is http://www.austinfree.net/. The

contact is Ana Sisnett at info@austinfree.net

About EFF-Austin

EFF-Austin is an independent nonproft civil liberties organization concerned

with emerging frontiers where technology meets society. We are a group of

visionary technologists, legal professionals, academics, political activists

and concerned citizens who work to protect digital rights and educate the

public about emerging technologies and their implications. The website is

http://www.eff-austin.org. The contact is Jon Lebkowsky at

info@effaustin.org

About Less Networks

Less Networks creates downloable customer-branded Free WiFi hotspots.

Venues own their hotspot and manage it with simple web tools. Hotspot

software lets venues communicate with their customers and log usage. Users

gain access to all Less Networks hotspots and interact with others logged in

from home or other venues.

The website is http://www.lessnetworks.com/. The contact is Rich MacKinnon

at rich@lessnetworks.com

Interested media in this Austin-based movement should contact:

Holt Hackney

Hackney Communications

(512) 632-0854

hhackney@hackneycommunications.com