New partnership announced between NetWireless, a division of Hartco Corporation
(TSX: HCC) and Cara Operations Limited, for their Second Cup café chain.
Calgary (PRWEB) July, 2003 - A new partnership announced between NetWireless,
a division of Hartco Corporation (TSX: HCC) and Cara Operations Limited, for
their Second Cup café chain, signals that wireless networking in public spaces
has truly arrived in Canada. Second Cup is Canada's largest specialty coffee
retailer with close to 400 cafés coast to coast, making the partnership between
NetWireless and Cara the largest of its kind in Canada.
Cara will use Wi-Fi technology from NetWireless to turn its Second Cup locations
in Canada into wireless "HotSpots"- allowing café customers to use
their Wi-Fi equipped laptops and PDAs to access the Internet as they enjoy their
lattés and muffins.
Darren Stokes, COO of NetWireless, says this program will significantly increase
the number wireless hotspots in Canada, and thanks to Second Cup's extensive
national network of cafés, will bring hotspots to areas of the country where
none currently exist. "Canada lags badly behind the United States in availability
of public hotspots for people using mobile technology. This partnership will
help close the gap."
The HotSpot program will begin August 1 at 10 Second Cup locations in Toronto
and two in Calgary followed by program rollout across the country.
For more information, contact:
NetWireless Darren Stokes Chief Operating Officer 403.703.4227
Second Cup Heather Ward Strategic Objectives 416. 366.7735
About NetWireless
NetWireless is a leading Canadian wireless data solution provider. NetWireless
offers turnkey HotSpot solutions for public areas and integrated wireless data
solutions to Canadian organizations. NetWireless is wholly owned by Hartco Corporation
(TSX: HCC) and through it enjoys one of Canada’s the largest support networks
dedicated to information technology solutions. For more information, visit http://www.netwireless.ca
About Cara Operations Limited
With annual system sales in excess of $1.8 billion, Cara Operations Limited
(TSX: CAO, CAO.A) is one of Canada’s leading integrated restaurant companies,
and the largest operator of full-service restaurants in Canada, providing employment
and opportunity for approximately 39,000 Canadians in its owned and franchised
operations.
Cara’s wholly owned businesses include Swiss Chalet; Harvey’s; Second Cup;
Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill; Montana’s Cookhouse; and as a franchisee,
Outback Steakhouse Restaurants in eastern Canada; Cara Air Terminal Restaurant
Division; Cara Airport Services Division; and Summit Food Service Distributors
Inc.
Cara also owns 74 percent of Milestones Restaurants Inc., an upscale casual
restaurant chain. Cara is a values-based organization. For more information,
visit www.cara.com
About Second Cup
The Second Cup® is the leading specialty coffee retailer in Canada, offering
the world’s finest coffees through close to 400 owner-operated cafés across
the country and select marketing partners including Roots, Lindt and many Delta
Hotels and Resort destinations. Second Cup is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cara
Operations Limited, Canada’s leading integrated restaurant company. For the
Ultimate Coffee Experience online, visit http://www.secondcup.com