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Wi-Fi Technology Expands at Detroit Metro Airport

High-speed wireless access now available in Smith and McNamara terminals.

DETROIT -- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Mich., recently expanded its Wi-Fi, wireless Internet service to include the L.C. Smith Terminal. Wireless Internet access first began at Detroit Metro Airport in December, when Concourse Communications completed installation of a Wi-Fi network at DTW's McNamara Terminal/Northwest WorldGateway.

"The service has been so well received, that we decided it was worthwhile to offer Wi-Fi to our other passengers traveling through the airport's older L.C. Smith Terminal," said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. "We are also exploring the incorporation of Wi-Fi into our new North Terminal complex, which will replace the older Smith and former Davey terminals by 2008."

With the new Wi-Fi system installed, DTW becomes one of 15 major airports in the country to offer Wi-Fi availability in its terminals. In addition, dial-up users can still plug into data ports available at all airport public telephones, and certain concessions like the McNamara Terminal's On-Line Cafe.

Travelers with Wi-Fi cards or wireless-enabled laptop computers, PDAs and smartphones can now surf the Web, send e-mail, even check flight status and headline news at wireless speeds of more than 400 Kbps.

To access the Concourse wireless system, users must have a wireless-enabled notebook computer, PDA, smartphone or a device that has a Wi-Fi network card installed. A small access fee of $6.95 (for a 24-hour period) can be paid via credit card, and other payment options are currently being explored. In addition, wireless users also have access to several free information sites, through the Concourse network including Detroit Metro Airport's Web site, real-time flight information and links to headline news.
Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.