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Software industry

Wireless Neighborhood Takes Shape in Cincinnati

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cincinnati is becoming the nation's first high-bandwidth, wireless, wide area network community, a groundbreaking project spearheaded by Broadwing Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation, Lucent Technologies, and Microsoft Corporation. The "Digital Rhine" neighborhood now boasts a wire-free network experience that enables users to access the Internet without plugging in. This innovative initiative aims to support Cincinnati's burgeoning dotcom population and demonstrate the feasibility of creating shared networks that bring together local businesses and residents. The project is leveraging the ORiNOCO wireless networking technology and equipment donated by Lucent to provide seamless connectivity.

Key Takeaways:

  • Broadwing Inc., Compaq Computer Corporation, Lucent Technologies, and Microsoft Corporation collaborated to launch the first high-bandwidth, wireless, wide area network community in Cincinnati's "Digital Rhine" neighborhood.
  • The project utilizes the ORiNOCO wireless networking technology and equipment donated by Lucent to provide wireless Internet access without the need for physical connections.
  • Cincinnati's emerging Internet companies, such as Atomic Dog Publishing and VisualNet Communications, will utilize the wireless network to support their day-to-day operations, fostering collaboration and innovation within the community.
  • The project aims to demonstrate the logistics and capabilities needed to create wire-free, shared network experiences and to support Cincinnati's technology community growth.
  • The collaboration includes contributions from Compaq, which is donating multiple servers and other Internet equipment, and Microsoft, which is donating software and services for the wireless community.
  • The wireless network will provide residents with access to a shared network containing files and information, enabling easier collaboration and innovation among local businesses and residents.
  • The project is supporting Cincinnati's efforts to become a technology center in the region, with the city emerging as a hub for high-tech growth and innovation.
  • Main Street Ventures, a Cincinnati-based technology development facilitator, worked closely with the project partners to bring businesses and residents together to harness the power of wireless networks.

Statistics:

  • The project is located in the "Digital Rhine" neighborhood of Cincinnati, which has been transformed into a hotbed for technology start-ups.
  • The wireless network has been deployed using Lucent's ORiNOCO wireless networking technology.
  • The project has attracted several Cincinnati-based Internet startup companies, including Atomic Dog Publishing and VisualNet Communications.
  • The wireless network provides access to a shared network containing files and information, enabling easier collaboration among local businesses and residents.
  • Broadwing Inc. has 6,000 employees in 56 sales and service offices across the country.
  • Compaq is the largest supplier of computing systems in the world.

Sources:

  • Broadwing Inc. (www.broadwing.com)
  • Compaq Computer Corporation (www.compaq.com)
  • Lucent Technologies (www.lucent.com)
  • Microsoft Corporation (www.microsoft.com)
  • Main Street Ventures (www.digitalrhine.com)

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