WARREN, Ohio – A project to bring wireless Internet access to the downtown Courthouse Square area of Warren, Ohio, could indirectly help boost retail sales and in-store traffic, reports the Tribune Chronicle.

According to Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien, a wireless Internet system could help bring more people to the area. He told the newspaper that outside of checking e-mail, researching projects or logging on for entertainment, having a wireless hotspot “would  be beneficial to the restaurants and other businesses because people will spend more time downtown and, perhaps, patronize their businesses.”

Communications company Embarq is talking with local businesses to help finance the wireless project, noting that a few businesses have expressed “some interest,” according to the company’s spokeswoman, Carolyn Angelotti. “Once we have a company wanting to do it, we will do a site survey to determine what equipment will be needed and estimate its costs,” she told the newspaper.

Businesses such as the Mocha House restaurant have realized the benefits of providing consumers with wireless Internet access for about two years. Co-owner Nick Liakaris told the newspaper that having wireless capabilities “has been a win-win situation for our customers and for the restaurant,” noting that he decided to offer the services after seeing how other restaurants in larger communities offered Internet connections for their customers. 

Restaurants such as Panera have been offering free wireless services for nearly two years, according to the company’s director of corporate affairs, Allen Ryan.

”Basically we’ve made it available for the convenience of our customers,” Ryan told the newspaper, adding, “This has become such an Internet-based society with people doing their work away from their homes and their offices. We feel if they can get on their computers and check their e-mails, hold meetings, and do other business while eating our sandwiches and enjoying some of our coffees, why not make it available.”

Ryan added that he believes competition “will encourage an increasing number of coffee shops and restaurants” to offer consumers some form of wireless capabilities if they want to remain competitive. “We have a lot of customers come in before traditional work hours and those who stay after lunch to do their work,” he told the newspaper.