JiWire collapses providers into locations, offering a more distinct look at the world: JiWire has just finished a massive update to their site which features some redesign, but most significantly changes the way in which they count hotspots. Previously, each provider at each location was counted once. Now, they count providers at locations separately from unique locations. Their current count is 46,799 hotspots (providers for each location) and 35,695 unique locations, which are physical addresses with one or more provider offering service.
This method extends the principles of counting uniquely to better understand the scope of networks that I've written about recently. JiWire continues to make it simple to find free hotspots. Click Hotspots at the top of any page or Advanced Search near any hotspot search form and you can check the Free button under Access Fee to restrict results to free locations.
You can also read the first of an excellent service of features written by my friends Richard and Angela as they travel with their four kids of all ages from Maine to Michigan down to Texas and back to the lobster state by RV. They're running an Internet business as they spend a month traveling, and need relatively constant access to stay on top of their operations.