Staying competitive and up to speed with the latest technology has prompted many Cabarrus County business owners to offer wireless Internet services, or Wi-Fi, to clients who now expect it.

A growing number of businesses -- ranging from coffee shops and restaurants to shopping centers -- are offering the service. And in most places, it's free.

Wi-Fi, which stands for "wireless fidelity," is technology that allows computer users to log onto the Internet without phone lines. Users have to be near a Wi-Fi access point and have a wireless card plugged into their laptop or an antenna built in to pick up a signal.

"We know a lot of people have a very limited time for lunch, and we wanted to make it convenient for people that might be pressed for time during their lunch break to come, have their lunch and still do their work and e-mail correspondence," said Brooke Hardebeck, spokeswoman for Carolina Mall. Full Story...

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