Austin already has hotspots with internet access and now it is expanding to East Austin.

The area is getting free outdoor Internet access thanks to the city of Austin's Wireless Mesh program. The city, in partnership with Cisco Systems, provides free wireless outdoor Internet connections throughout various parts of Austin.

The project began in March 2006 when the city of Austin partnered with Cisco and the World Congress on Information Technology to provide high-speed Internet access to the downtown area. When the project is complete, wireless coverage will extend to most of Zilker Park.

Other TX cities have already implemented similar programs, Corpus Christi already having full coverage throughout the city. There have mixed reviews on how well the systems work, but the overall feeling is that it's a step in the right direction.

Which direction? To some it just means that there will be more pornography & gambling but the direction it's supposed to take us is a more "business friendly" city. What's better than coming to a city and pulling out you laptop to work and not having to find a hotspot...just pop open your laptop, connect and go.

The increased sales of wireless Cellphone internet cards shows the support for this kind of demand. (Heck, I've had one AT&T Edge & now the new Sprint USB compatable one!)

Unfortunately I don't know too much about how they are setting the system up as far upgradeability, but as stated before, it's a step in the right direction. 

 ***UPDATE***

After I wrote the above post, I saw on news8austin.com this excerpt:

Free high-speed, wireless internet is now available outdoors in some parts of East Austin.

Mayor Will Wynn flipped the switch this morning that expands the city's Outdoor Wireless Mesh Project, which was sponsored by Cisco Systems.