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Wireless Network Gets New Lease on Life in Denver

A new partnership brings high-speed wireless Internet connectivity the city's businesses and consumers and the chance to develop mobile public safety applications to government.

DENVER -- As part of a public/private partnership with the city and county of Denver, Ricochet Networks has given the city modems and service in exchange for the opportunity to jointly develop and deploy municipal and public safety applications based on the wireless network.

The service is now available to consumers and businesses throughout Denver for $44.95 per month -- even in neighborhoods where high-speed access is not available via local phone or cable companies.

"We're proud that Denver is the first city in the nation to re-launch the Ricochet service for consumers," said Wellington Webb, mayor of Denver, in a statement. "We've been testing it since February and we feel it's a communications tool that holds great potential for the city."

Webb said Denver will test applications such as high-speed Internet connectivity in police patrol cars to access law enforcement data; mobile capabilities for fire department personnel so site plans can be accessed and viewed en route to a fire; and for paramedics to access health records and emergency room availability while they're responding to an accident.

Company officials said the mobile network is capable of reaching speeds of 176 kbps and higher.

The Ricochet network had been built in 21 cities and had more than 51,000 subscribers, though the company was shut down last August. RNI acquired the moribund company late last year, and the new owners said they are actively negotiating with municipalities, private landlords and resellers to reactivate the network and sell the service in other U.S. cities following the Denver launch.