By Michelle Chandra — Reporter
Published Tuesday April 19, 2005
Downtown Isla Vista has just become the area’s newest
surfing spot, thanks to the recent addition of wireless Internet
hot spots at many of the businesses around the Embarcadero loop.
Incipient Technologies, a local wireless Internet service provider
located at 900 Embarcadero del Mar, completed installation of
a new Wi-Fi network in downtown I.V. on April 4. Owners of laptop
computers or other wireless Internet-capable devices can access
the network — which makes it possible to use the Internet
without plugging into to a landline — from any of several
locations in Isla Vista. The coverage area includes most of the
coffee shops, restaurants and other businesses located along
Pardall Road, Anisq’ Oyo’ Park and People’s
Park, and many other establishments located along the Embarcadero
loop.
Steve LeBoeuf, of Incipient Technologies, said his company is
offering the Wi-Fi access through a partnership with Firetide,
Inc., a wireless network developer based in Los Gatos, Calif.
LeBoeuf said the service is being offered for free during its
initial trial period, but he said Incipient will be reassessing
the Wi-Fi network’s value after a certain amount of time.
“Incipient Technologies absorbed all costs of installation
and maintenance [of the network],” he said. “The
more people that use it, the more likely it will stay free,” LeBoeuf
said.
LeBoeuf said the cost of setting up the Wi-Fi network was “considerable,” but
he did not release the exact dollar amount for the installation.
As a UCSB graduate, LeBoeuf said one of his goals in creating
the free Wi-Fi network was to help improve downtown I.V. for
students and other locals who frequent the area.
“I went to UCSB and lived in Isla Vista,” LeBoeuf
said. “I liked the community and wanted to give something
for the community.”
Dan Soucek, general manager of Woodstock’s Pizza, said
he was eager to have Incipient install a wireless Internet connection
so the restaurant could provide customers with a convenience
not offered at most pizza places.
“We decided to add this as an extra,” Soucek said. “Businesspeople
come in all the time with their laptops, and now they can work
and eat at the same time.”
Laptops must be Wi-Fi enabled to use the free wireless Internet,
but LeBoeuf said wireless Internet cards may be purchased for
as little as $25 at local retailers such as the UCSB Bookstore
or CompUSA.
Barbara Cardillo, vice president of marketing at Firetide, said
the differences between mobile wireless Internet and traditional
Internet are similar to those between cellular phone networks
and regular landline telephones.
“The same thing that was done for cell phones, we are
now doing for wireless access,” Cardillo said. “The
main difference is that our product can be installed anywhere
and for less money.”
Cardillo said a Wi-Fi mesh network is also more environmentally
friendly than cable-based networks, which must be placed in the
ground or in the walls of buildings.
“All you need is regular power, no special wires,” Cardillo
said. “No digging, no trenching.”
Contact Information
Steve LeBoeuf
Incipient Technologies
steve.leboeuf@incipient.net
800-572-2000
Daily Nexus
nexus@dailynexus.com
805-893-2651
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