7MUNCIE, Ind.—Consumers will soon be able to log onto their PDAs and laptops at nearly every business as wireless access to the Internet becomes commonplace, says a Ball State University researcher.

Already widespread at airports and Starbucks, access points are spreading rapidly to hotels, gas stations and other retailers, says Stephan Jones, director of the Institute for Wireless Innovation at Ball State.

"Wireless access, or Wi-Fi as it is commonly known, will soon be coming to every street corner," he said. "We live in a society in love with technology. Wi-Fi, which was once only for gadget lovers, has gone mainstream."

Consumers and businesses are expected to spend $1.7 billion on Wi-Fi equipment in 2003. By 2006, there are expected to be 89,000 public wireless Internet access points for an estimated 100 million Wi-Fi users worldwide.

Jones said start-up costs are reasonable for businesses striking deals with service providers. Boingo, a company formed by the founder of Earthlink, has a starter kit for $695, while Toshiba's is $300.

A joint venture by AT&T, IBM and Intel will provide wireless access to the nation's top 50 population centers within the next 24 to 36 months. Providers pass along a portion of the access fee to the host business.

"For computer users, having the ability to get work done without being tethered to a physical location is what makes it attractive," Jones said. "Businesses must simply have wireless access to attract and retain their customers."

Ball State's Institute of Wireless Innovation assists students, faculty and corporations in evaluating products and applications through workshops and hands-on labs. The institute is a division of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Jones at sjones@bsu.eduor (765) 285-1889.)