SAN FRANCISCO, Ca -- San Francisco International Airport has become the first airport in Northern California to offer high-speed wireless Internet access to patrons throughout its entire facility, officials announced today.

According to airport spokesman Michael McCarron, the new service, known as Wi-Fi, will allow travelers with laptop computers and other devices to send and receive e-mail, access corporate networks, and surf the Internet from anywhere at SFO.

All that is needed to access the service, which is being provided by T-Mobile, is an 802.11a/b wireless card and a service plan, McCarron said.

To celebrate the inauguration of the service, officials on Thursday and Friday will distribute 20,000 service access cards, free of charge.

The cards normally cost $9.95, and allow the user one day of Wi-Fi access at SFO, as well as any other T-Mobile-supported facility in the country, McCarron said.