McDonald?s Offers Wireless for Fee

Three McDonald’s restaurants in Northwest Arkansas have wireless Internet service for a fee: the stores on Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville, Hudson Road in Rogers and Arkansas Highway 102 in Bentonville. The charge is $3 for a two-hour connection to the Internet (or $30 a month for an unlimited plan). The Fayetteville location was the first to go wireless, which was around Nov. 1.

Bill Mathews, whose company operates 25 McDonald’s franchises, said he plans to offer wireless in more of those restaurants, but it will depend on the availability of DSL service.

Wireless isn’t just for students and businesspeople. Some Sony PlayStations have wireless capabilities, which could keep the kids busy while parents are dining.

McDonald’s has hired Wayport Inc. to help convert hundreds of its restaurants to wireless, including the Northwest Arkansas locations.

Mathews Management Corp. of Springdale plans to open two new McDonald’s restaurants: in Centerton on Dec. 13 and Greenland in mid-January.