ASHLAND, Ore. -- July 1, 2001 -- Open Door Networks, Inc., Project A, Inc., and the Ashland Fiber Network (AFN), announced today plans to highlight the ongoing success of the Ashland Unwired program in Lithia Park this July 4. The program, which brings high-speed, AFN-based wireless Internet access to the area, has been adopted by a number of local businesses recently, including: Ashland Community Hospital, Siskiyou Brew Pub, Rogue Valley Roasting Company, Ashland Springs Hotel, Ann HathawayÕs Cottage, Ashland Center for Women's Health, Black Sheep, Emigrant Trail Trading Post, and Starbucks.
What started out as an experiment and a chance to implement break-through technology, has now evolved into a state-of-the-art service that will be accessed throughout the city of Ashland. The advanced technology allows users to connect to the Internet at high speeds with laptop computers or hand held devices, without the hassle of cords or modems.
Community members, students, patients and tourists who have wireless enabled devices can see what's playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, check e-mail, or even obtain medical information--all while sipping a latte, drinking a beer, or waiting for a doctors examination.
"We're excited about the variety of locations at which Ashland Unwired is offered and its growing popularity among users," said Jim Teece, CEO of Project A.
The Ashland Community Hospital offers Ashland Unwired free to its patients and physicians in the OB department. The department is excited about being able to offer every person cutting edge technology where they are able to access the Internet, look up medical advice while they are in the waiting room, or post a digital picture of their newborn child for friends and family to see around the world.
"Installing a wireless connection was easier and more cost effective than hardwiring all of the rooms," John Clark, of Ashland Community Hospital, said. "It got used within 30 minutes after the installation."
Another place users can access Ashland Unwired is at the Bulls Eye Bistro located in the Ashland Springs Hotel. The connection reaches the entire restaurant including the out door seating area.
"The technology is amazing. Customers can order a burger and drink, sit down anywhere in the restaurant, and surf the Internet or check their e-mail," said Dennis Godfrey, general manager of Ashland Springs Hotel. "Ashland Unwired is an added service to our customers and another great reason to visit Bulls-Eye."
Demonstrations of the technology will be featured in the Ashland Fourth of July celebration. Following the July Fourth parade, Open Door, Project A, and the AFN will be showing Ashland Unwired in Lithia Park. The Ashland Unwired booth will have neither electricity nor a wired network connection, demonstrating the power and simplicity of the technology.
"The AFN itself puts Ashland ahead of 95% of the communities in the US as far as Internet connectivity," Alan Oppenheimer, president of Open Door, said. "The addition of Ashland Unwired makes that 99.9%. You can do technology stuff here you just can't do anywhere else."
For more information you can contact Kristina Wurtz at 488-1702 ext. 131, or Alan Oppenheimer at 488-4127. You can also visit the Ashland Unwired website at www.ashlandunwired.com.