Ricochet rebounds in the Rockies

The city of Denver has begun using the Ricochet high-speed wireless Internet service, marking the first time the network has been used commercially since original owner Metricom filed for bankruptcy last year.

Denver's Office of Information plans to use the network to prepare for the upcoming demolition of Mile High Stadium, according to a Ricochet spokeswoman. The city will use the network to coordinate training sessions and run-throughs of the demolition.

The announcement is another sign of the re-emergence of the Ricochet service. The wireless Internet service was sold by Metricom, a company partly funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures. The service was shut down when Metricom filed for bankruptcy.

Aerie Networks bought the assets, including much of the network in 21 U.S. cities, and plans to begin selling the service commercially this year, according to a company spokeswoman.

This is the first trial use of the network since August 2000. The city will use the network for about four months and then decide whether it wants to keep the service.

The Ricochet network did re-emerge briefly to help in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster.