For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Erickson
(954) 924-2980, (954) 214-2456

Free Wireless Internet Service A Hit On The Beach And Downtown

About 120 Hollywood business owners and residents learned all about the free wireless Internet service available in the beach and downtown areas at the “WiFi 101 Seminar” held July 14 at the Marriott Hotel Hollywood Beach.

WiFi, or wireless fidelity, is a free, limited-range local wireless network available to users of wireless laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones with Internet capability. The free interactive seminar, which was presented in two sessions by the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency Beach and Downtown Districts, included tips on marketing WiFi to beach and downtown customers.

“I found it very interesting, because I didn’t know anything about [WiFi] at all,” said Marie Vittoz, the owner of Safari Café on the Beach Broadwalk. “It definitely will bring the younger people to the beach.”

With the implementation of WiFi in the downtown in October 2004 and in the beach district on April 28, Hollywood establishes itself as one of the area’s first cities to provide free wireless Internet access. When the project is completed, residents and visitors will be able to access WiFi service 24 hours a day in a 4-square-mile area of the city.

“Hollywood is proud to be among the most progressive cities in our nation, providing wireless Internet service to those who visit our newly energized downtown and beach,” said Mayor Mara Giulianti, who serves as chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency. “Unlike many of those cities, however, Hollywood charges absolutely nothing for the service, which is provided under the auspices of the Hollywood CRA.”

To gain access to the World Wide Web, as well as more specific information about Hollywood businesses and happenings, wireless users need only sign in and provide some basic demographic information. Users can sign up for their own free e-mail address and log on to the network home page in a matter of seconds.

Hollywood resident Brian Alex, who often uses WiFi service by the pool at his condominium, The Summit, called the seminar “very informative.”

“It was great to see what lengths Hollywood is going to to keep our tourists,” Alex said. “I think [WiFi] is a wonderful thing.”

Ernie del Sol of communications provider JBE Technology, Inc., which conducted the “WiFi 101 Seminar,” said the event not only cleared up misconceptions about wireless technology, but questions from participants also provided the company with ideas for expanding the FAQ page on its website (www.jbetech.com).

“We learned a lot from this seminar,” del Sol said. “It was a very successful event.”

In addition to the convenience of “staying connected” that beach and downtown residents and visitors have experienced since WiFi was implemented, business and leisure travelers find the service to be an invaluable source of information on everything Hollywood has to offer in its two CRA districts.

Beach CRA Executive Director Gil Martinez said the availability of WiFi service, which is included in the city’s local and out-of-town advertising, is an extremely effective marketing tool for Hollywood and its beach and downtown businesses.

“As Hollywood continues to move forward with its initiative to become a world-class tourist destination, the decision to offer free WiFi service is part of our competitive advantage to enhance the vacation experience and provide added value to our leisure and business travelers,” Martinez said.