Title of “First Wireless Retirement Center” Claimed by New Jersey Home

Pompton Plains, NJ, Aug. 22, 2003 - The computer world is going wireless and a retirement center in New Jersey has claimed the honor as the first wireless retirement center in the U.S. Just like the telephone, computers no longer have to be wired to the wall to make a connection.

Cedar Crest, a “campus” for almost 500 people aged 62 or better, hosted a "Ditch Your Modem Party" for residents where attendees essentially 'threw out their 56K modems, said goodbye to those slow internet download times – and said hello to internet service, which is wireless, fast, reliable, and always "on!"'

"Residents will enjoy having continuous, fast service to the internet, without having to log on and off," says Gary Hibbs, Executive Director of Cedar Crest. "They will be plugged into to the "super-highway," and traveling around in a fast Ferrari -- not that old clunker of a dial-up modem, that only makes you wait while the whole world is zooming past you."

Residents with laptops, who sign up for wireless service, are able to connect to the Internet from any spot on campus -- whether they are in their apartments or even at the pool -- without wires. Keith Walter, the president of Oneder, the provider of Cedar Crest's Wireless Internet Service, spoke to an audience of nearly one hundred residents and addressed their concerns. Twenty-two of the attendees registered for the service on the first day. And, it is anticipated that many more will do so in the coming weeks.

"This means residents can ditch that extra phone line, and the phone bill they have been using for dial-up internet service - and if they only have one phone line and have to suffer through missing calls because the line is tied up by internet use, this wireless service is perfect for them," says Ian Brown, Associate Executive Director at Cedar Crest. "They can enjoy all of the phone conversations they desire, while surfing the web, and their friends and family will no longer be frustrated by busy signals while they are surfing."

Residents who currently have cable-modem service through Comcast, that switch to Oneder High Speed Internet Service, are able to reduce their costs, receive tighter security, faster "uploads," and better customer service, according to Walter. Monthly charges are based on the bandwidth chosen.

Until September 30th, residents will receive the added benefit of free installation for first 30 days (a $120 value). In addition, the local community of Pequannock may be able to take advantage of Cedar Crest's wireless network, Oneder will be extending the service from Cedar Crest to the surrounding community within the next 6 months. Oneder is now accepting applications from local residents for engineers and sales agents.

"The network is scalable, so no matter how many members there are, speed and access will never change," says Walter. "No one will get get kicked off, like they do with other national companies," he continues.

Using Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) technology, residents are able to take advantage of all internet features, including: streaming video, sending out large photo files, on-line banking, shopping. research and even up-to-the-moment news and stock watching, by just turning on their computers. In addition, the wireless technology makes it possible for residents to watch movies from home collections and even video-commute to a grandchild's party, while being physically located anywhere on the Cedar Crest campus.

Cedar Crest, like the other Erickson campuses, already provides each resident with an e-mail address and access to the community’s "Touchtown" intranet portal upon move-in, is now improving access and use of the portal by making it an upfront loaded homepage for news, events, e-mail, chatting, etc. Touchtown is a way for residents to stay in touch with one another and their families and friends as well as with Cedar Crest-related information. Residents can also take advantage of free computer training classes that are offered, year-round, at Cedar Crest.

"I have learned more about technology since moving to Cedar Crest than I ever knew before, says Craig Mitchell, a resident. "Cedar Crest is a place to grow, learn and socialize – it is not a place to become isolated as you age in place."

In addition, like the other Erickson campuses, Cedar Crest will soon have its own state-of-the-art TV station. And, the amenities do not stop at computer technology and TV stations -- college level classes, provided by Drew University, are also available on Cedar Crest's campus.

"There is an atmosphere and lifestyle created at our campuses that truly defies traditional stereotypes of aging and senior living," says Gary Hibbs, Executive Director, Cedar Crest. "Our residents are inspired to travel, begin new careers, initiate new, meaningful relationships, and cultivate interests and hobbies they may not have had time for the past."

Erickson presently manages 12 campuses (the average being 100+ acres with 2,000+ residents) in Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, that are home to nearly 11,000 residents. Erickson (http://www.ericksoncommunities.com) was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Catonsville, Maryland. For more information, please call 973-831-3568.

Oneder (http://www.oneder.net) is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP), and Wireless Networking company based in Baltimore, Maryland.