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Treasure Island officials launch WiFi network on July 4
By LEE DIEKEMPER
| Article published on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 |
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TREASURE ISLAND – The city of Treasure Island has given residents and visitors another reason to celebrate the Fourth of July.
On July 4, the city, through its wireless Internet provider, Citi WiFi Networks, will offer free wireless access on the island. The wireless access area, or umbrella, where one can get online covers Gulf Boulevard and the beaches from Cadillac Jack’s to the south and Gators On The Pass to the north.
“Anyone with a wireless card in their laptop can log on to the free Citi WiFi network,” said Mike Sheaffer of Citi WiFi Networks, the city’s wireless provider, in a press release.
This is just a first step in the process of having the entire island under a wireless umbrella. Both Treasure Island information technology director Mark Santos and public information officer Jeff Jensen noted the goal is to have the entire city WiFi capable by the end of the year.
Having the beaches and downtown able to log on via wireless access is a big first step.
Now, visitors to the island can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the island – its beaches – and surf the net, all at the same time.
And for one day only, for free.
Once logging on to the WiFi network, a start page automatically pops up featuring various restaurants and other attractions for the island. The same page also includes instructions on how to set up an account, for the days in which the WiFi access is not free: all days outside of July 4.
There are various types of accounts depending on desired speed and time. For example, a residential account for Treasure Island residents is $24.99 per month for unlimited usage.
“This is great for visitors,” Jensen said.
A contract with Citi WiFi was signed with the city of Treasure Island a year ago to provide wireless access to the city and city services. Since then, hotspots have been popping up in small steps beginning with the immediate downtown area.
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Article published on Wednesday, July 4, 2007
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