BellSouth said it is now giving its business customers the option to bundle a Wi-fi service into their new or existing BellSouth Wireless Broadband service. With this new bundle, BellSouth will install and activate a Wi-fi hotspot at a business location.

The new service provides wireless broadband at a discount for use as backup access to the Internet and e-mail in the event of a wireline network outage.

BellSouth commercially launched wireless broadband using pre-WiMax technology last August in Athens, Ga., and has since deployed in Palatka, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Gulfport, Miss.; and DeLand, Fla. BellSouth plans to expand the service to additional cities throughout 2006.

BellSouth said it will begin lab trials of WiMax this spring, moving into technical trials in the second half of 2006.