McDonald's Serves Up Wireless Access

McDonald's customers may soon be asked whether they would like a free hour of "McWireless" access to go along with their Extra Value Meal, thanks to a deal the fast food chain made with Intel.

To coincide with the semiconductor's launch of its new Centrino mobile technology this week, Intel announced Tuesday that it is launching a joint marketing campaign to offer high-speed wireless Internet access in ten Manhattan McDonald's restaurants, with plans to expand the deal to hundreds of other locations by the end of the year.

What's more, for the next three months, in participating restaurants customers with wireless-enabled laptops will be offered a free hour of wireless Net access when they purchase a McDonald's Extra Value Meal. Customers can also purchase an hour of wireless access for $3.00.

The companies hope to launch the wireless services in hundreds of other McDonald's locations in New York City, Chicago, and California by the end of the year.

Set for Centrino

The deal comes one day before Intel is due to launch its heavily promoted Centrino mobile computing technology, which combines a new processor built specifically for a mobile environment with wireless Internet chips based on the 802.11b standard.

Intel also announced Tuesday that it has scored a similar deal with book, music, and video retailer Borders Group, under which the companies will jointly market Intel-verified wireless Internet zones, or hot spots. Borders' wireless services are provided by T-Mobile USA, but the networks are compatible with the Centrino mobile technology, Intel said.

The Santa Clara, California, chip maker said that its wireless-verification program includes engineering and testing of the Intel Centrino mobile technology with network architecture that supports various access points, software combinations, hot spot locations, and wireless service providers.