home » media » The Arizona Republic - Section D1 | Dec 30, 2006

Valley's wireless wonder, risk proliferate

Gina Madrid calls her cafe, Drip Coffee Lounge, a place for people to connect. Considering how many of her customers are tapping away at laptop computers, people are indeed connecting: sometimes to each other, but definitely to Drip's free wireless network.

For many coffeehouses, free wireless connections are a way to draw customers. Now, Valley cities are treading on that tradition by offering wireless services.

Madrid is aware that wireless has its risks, but she considers it a must for coffeehouses.

She estimates that half of her customers log into her network while sipping lattes.

She said she doesn't anticipate any threat to her customer base if Phoenix decides to offer a service similar to Tempe's. Even if people could access the Internet anywhere, she said she doubts it would affect her business.

Logging in from a park bench may sound good, but the Internet is only one reason that people gather at cafes.

"Phoenix isn't a place where you can run into your best friend at the park," Madrid said. "You don't get the community aspect."