WNN's partner JiWire releases downloadable hotspot directory with automatic updater: This site's partner in Wi-Fi news and education, JiWire, has just released its hotspot directory for Windows XP/2000/Me, Mac OS X 10.3, and Linux (Red Hat 9). The program contains a searchable list of their entire online directory, and can automatically refresh itself with new listings as they become available.
This directory can be used entirely offline. If you're connected to the Internet, you can follow links to a map for each hotspot location on JiWire's site.
To use the directory, you have to sign up for a free JiWire account; the program is also free. In this first version of the software, you can search by city, state, country, or Zip code.
This software is the next step in always being able to answer the question of where to find the nearest hotspot especially when you don't currently have Internet access. Until now, all directory programs have been limited to a specific wireless network or subscriber service. JiWire's directory features all 28,000 locations they currently list worldwide.
As part of the company's efforts to serve a broader audience, the software has a checkbox to limit searches to just free Wi-Fi locations.