The proliferation of public space wireless access may transform how people work. It will provide an almost seamless high-speed link between office, home, and road - from home to airport to in flight to airport to hotel to conference center.

Is this good? Will it make folks happier and more efficient? Probably not. But it's a reality that I want to track.

Already, it appears that more public space infrastructure is in place and testing without a lot of fanfare. I'd love to have people send in reports or use the discussion feature on this site (requires nominal registration) to talk about where they've found access.

In the next two to three weeks, I plan to add a searchable database of public space access, including both free and for-fee networks. If you're running either kind of network, please email me to discuss data sources.

Update: the folks at the security information site Shmoo have a resource in progress along these lines called GAWD. (An no Li'l Abner jokes, please.)

News

Microsoft drops Bluetooth from Windows XP, Microsoft list of supported wireless technology in Windows XP: Microsoft won't include support for either HomeRF (disclosed two weeks ago) or Bluetooth in its next-generation consumer OS, Windows XP, due out this fall. They will support WiFi, however, with a variety of system management hooks to improve laptop users ease of mobility.

Motorola announces big Bluetooth push: Motorola plans to release a Bluetooth card that can be embedded on motherboards for both major PC chip markets (PowerPC, Intel).