Unleash your laptops; Metro's gone wireless.

Wireless Internet access is now available free to Metro faculty, staff and students in the Science, Central Classroom, Arts, West Classroom and Plaza Buildings as well as the Administration Building Atrium and 7th Street Lounge.

"Going wireless" means that people with laptops and pocket PCs can check e-mail or surf the Internet without being hooked up to a connecting cable or phone jack. After piloting wireless service in the West Classroom Building lounges this fall, Metro went live with its full wireless deployment on Dec. 15. As of mid-January, 1,500 users had already accessed the new system.

"One of the reasons we did this," explains Sharon McGee-Canady, director of desktop and network services, "was to take some of the strain off the student computer labs. This way, students can use their mobile computing technology to get their mail and access the Internet."

Ready to connect?

You can access the MetroNet wireless network from any laptop equipped with a wireless network adapter and card. A list of cards that follow required standards can be found at www.weca.net. To view detailed instructions on how to connect, visit www.mscd.edu/~infotech/