CEDAR FALLS - Ann Eastman, owner of Cup of Joe in downtown Cedar Falls, was pleased to see Cedar Falls Utilities add wireless Internet to the city's downtown. She said the step shows the city cares about making and keeping the downtown a destination point.

"I think it's definitely going to be a gain for downtown," Eastman said.

The addition of wireless Internet to the downtown Cedar Falls area continues a growing trend of area businesses adding the feature.

The trend isn't showing many signs of slowing down, said Bruce Rempe, owner of Cedar Valley Wi-Fi.

"I would say in the last year, we would have doubled the spots available," Rempe said.

Businesses cite several reasons for adding wireless Internet, or WiFi, to their businesses, but gaining additional customers is rarely one of them.

The Cellar, a local wine bar, and CU Restaurant added WiFi last October. Joni Hollen, who co-owns the establishments with her husband, Mike, said the feature would be beneficial for customers conducting business lunches.

"We just wanted to have that available to our customers. It was a feature we thought would be useful," Hollen said.

Craig Kress, manager at the Panera Bread in Cedar Falls, said he hasn't noticed a difference in volume of business since the store added WiFi a year ago.

"I don't know if we've gained any business. It just makes our customers happy," Kress said.

Kress said it also helps with customer retention by keeping customers who may seek other locations that have WiFi.

Betty Zeman, CFU's marketing manager, said adding wireless Internet to the Cedar Falls downtown was an additional perk for the utility's high-speed Internet customers. Only CFU high-speed Internet customers can access the wireless Internet provided by CFU.

"We did this to add value and convenience for our customers," Zeman said.

Eastman said while she thinks CFU's move will benefit the downtown, she still may get equipment to broadcast WiFi to all her customers.

She expressed concern that people may come to the shop, power up their computers and zone out to everything else, which goes against the interactive atmosphere Eastman wants in her shop.

Still, she sees the move more as a necessity in her line of work.

Not surprising, given what Rempe sees with his work installing WiFi networks.

"You can't hardly run a coffee shop anymore without WiFi," Rempe said.

Part of the reason is that coffee shops fit the bill as places Rempe said are obvious targets for WiFi service.

"Any situation where someone finds themselves sitting and waiting is a prime spot for WiFi service," Rempe said.

Several more area locations will become "hot spots," or WiFi access points, in the near future. CFU has plans to add wireless Internet service, again just for its customers, in the College Square Mall area later this year. Rempe said he is working on a few more spots for service, but he is unable to release who he is working for at this time.

Contact RC Balaban at (319) 291-1418 or rc.balaban@wcfcourier.com.