McDonald's customers may soon be asked whether they would like a free hour of "McWireless" access to go along with their meal, thanks to a deal the fast food chain made with Intel.

To coincide with the chip giant's launch of its latest wireless-based Centrino processor this week, Intel announced Tuesday that it is launching a joint marketing campaign to offer high-speed wireless Internet access in 10 Manhattan McDonald's restaurants. The firms also plan to expand the deal to include hundreds of other locations by the end of the year.

What's more, for the next three months, customers in participating restaurants with wireless-enabled laptops will be offered a free hour of wireless 'Net access when they purchase a McDonald's Extra Value Meal. Customers can also purchase an hour of wireless access for $3.00.

The companies hope to launch the wireless services in hundreds of other McDonald's locations in New York City, Chicago and California by the end of the year.

The deal comes one day before Intel is due to launch its heavily promoted Centrino mobile computing technology, which combines a new processor built specifically for a mobile environment with wireless Internet chips based on the 802.11b standard.

Intel also announced Tuesday that it has scored a similar deal with book, music and video retailer Borders Group, under which the companies will jointly market Intel-verifed wireless Internet zones, or hotspots. Border's wireless services are provided by T-Mobile USA, but the networks are compatible with the Centrino mobile technology, Intel said.

The chip maker said that its wireless verification program includes engineering and testing of the Intel Centrino mobile technology with network architecture that supports various access points, software combinations, hotspot locations and wireless service providers.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.