Curated by: Luigi Canali De Rossi
 


Sunday, March 4, 2007

WiFi Hotspots: WiFi Locators And WiFi Sharing Communities Mini-Guide

Sponsored Links

Finding broadband Internet access while away from home has become a vital need for many people. The number of Internet access points around the world keeps on growing and so does the number of WiFi hotspots, physical locations specifically enabled to provide open (and sometimes free) wireless access to the Internet.

wifi_zone.jpg
Photo credit: Wi-Fi Alliance

WiFi hotspots are identifiable through tools (either web- or software-based) called WiFi hotspot locators, which help users find the exact geographic location of all existing WiFi hotspots.

WiFi hotspot locators index WiFi hotspots that can be either commercial or free to use:

  1. Commercial hotspots require users to authenticate themselves and purchase an Internet pass via credit card or other payment systems such as PayPal; these hotspots are generally located in airports and hotels.
  2. Free hotspots are open public networks and they don't require authentication. In this case, free hotspot providers have the disadvantage of not knowing who connects to the router and thus they can't control it by any means; these hotspots are mostly available in parks and public places.

Today, all laptops, notebooks and PDAs are WiFi-enabled and can automatically detect WiFi hotspots while on the go. However, the real issue is often to know where hotspots are exactly located before going to a certain place without having to waste time looking for them.

Another type of WiFi hotspot locator is a completely self-enclosed portable unit which provides the means to "scan" the airwaves at any location, or even while you are driving and detect possible "open" WiFi access points in the surrounding area.

Other alternatives include WiFi hotspots online searchable directories that users can browse when looking for hotspots in specific world locations. These niche search engines devoted exclusively to the indexing of WiFi hotspots often provide such results integrated in a visual map that displays the exact location of the hotspot areas you may have been searching for.

Besides relying on WiFi hotspot locators, users can also decide to join a WiFi sharing community which allows them to share their home WiFi broadband connection and obtain in exchange the possibility to freely connect to the Internet through other WiFi sharing users. This phenomenon is becoming more popular day after day and represents a true new media revolution.

In this Index to WiFi HotSpot Locators I have collected here for you the latest and most useful WiFi hotspot locators and sharing communities out there, and have provided for each key basic reference info on the following characterizing traits:

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Hotspots search is performed worldwide or within a specific country

  • Download: The user needs to download anything to locate hotspots

  • Visual maps: The service provides maps (i.e. GoogleMaps) to visually locate hospots

  • Rating and reviewing: WiFi users can rate and review hotspots

  • Community driven: WiFi service allows interaction and info sharing among users

  • Mobile phones support: whether the service is accessible via mobile

  • Registration: whether users need to register to search for WiFi hotspots

  • Users can submit hotspots: whether users can report the presence of new WiFi hotspots

  • Price: whether the service is free or not

Please note that this index is now an initial overview of WiFi hotspot locators and in no way pretends to be the only, final and most comprehensive resource. You reader, are the true expert on which we rely and your suggestions and info are what will keep making this reference a valuable and up-to-date one.

WiFi Hotspots Locators



MSN WiFi Hotspots

msnwifihotspots_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: NO

  • Price:
  • Free
  • Link: http://hotspot.live.com

MSN WiFi Hotspots is a web-based service provided by Microsoft that lets users search for free and paid WiFi hotspots in 98 countries. This hotspot locator facilitates users that are searching for free WiFi by letting them use the View on Map feature, which displays on a map powered by Virtual Earth. The service is completely free.



Hotspotr

hotspotr_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: US only

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: YES

  • Community driven: YES

  • Mobile phones support: YES

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://hotspotr.com/wifi

Hotspotr is a directory that lists all cafés in the US that offer free wireless Internet connection and is completely community-driven. It's up to the users to make the information accurate, the reviews useful, and the listings vital. Users can search for free hotspots and they don't need to register to the site. Anyone can add a listing, or edit a listing that's already there. Free to use.



WiFinder

wifinder_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: NO

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.wifinder.com

The WiFinder online directory delivers over 120,000 worldwide hotspot searches monthly to thousands of WiFi users. WiFinder is the tool that links WiFi users with the locations, services, and equipment they need. WiFinder provides offline search tools, and lets users subscribe to search results via RSS feeds, so that they can stay up to date. Free to use.



JiWire

jiwire_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.jiwire.com

JiWire's WiFi Hotspot Finder makes it easy to locate wireless Internet access around the globe listing 143,129 free and paid WiFi hotspots in 132 countries. You can use JiWire search tools to find hotspots near a specific address or take a shortcut to JiWire most popular WiFi locations. Each verified hotspot listed in the directory features detailed information on access options, plus maps and driving directions when available. JiWire provides several downloadable tools that can help you find hotspots. Free to use.



myHotspots

myhotspots_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: UK only

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: NO

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.myhotspots.co.uk

myHotspots is a service that makes it easy for you to find WiFi hotspots in the UK. You just have to enter the name of a town or first part of a postcode in the box above and hit the Get Results button. myHotspots lists over 6500 wifi hotspots and always welcomes new WiFi hotspots submissions, especially of independents and free wireless hotspots. Free to use.



WiFiMaps

wifimaps_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: US only

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.wifimaps.com

WiFiMaps is a web-based interactive map of WiFi hotspots. Users can share their findings, and WiFiMaps generates detailed street-level maps. In order to access some functionalities you need to create a user account. WiFiMaps is a service that currently lists only hotspots available in the US. WiFiMaps is completely free to use.



Wi-Fi-FreeSpot

wififreespot_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: NO

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.wififreespot.com

The Wi-Fi-FreeSpot directory is a listing of locations that offer free WiFi connections all around the world. The directory will help you find all types of free WiFi locations that are open to the general public, customers or guests. Users are welcome to contribute to the growth of the directory by submitting new information. Free to use.



Free-hotspot.com

freehotspot_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO

  • Visual maps: NO

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: YES

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.free-hotspot.com

Free-hotspot.com is an online destination for people seeking for WiFi hotspots around the world. Free-hotspot.com locations offer free WiFi access and include cafés, hotels, pubs, restaurants, retail centers and transit centers around the world. Free-hotspot.com also allows users to search for hotspots by phone. The service is completely free to use.



Spotigo

spotigo_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: A downloadable WiFi locator is also available (Windows only)

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: NO

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: NO

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.spotigo.com

Spotigo is a service that provides a rich directory of WiFi hotspots available worldwide (both free and commercial). Moreover, Spotigo also offers a freely downloadable WiFi connection manager (available only for Windows computers) that helps users locate the WiFi hotspots that best suit their system requirements.




WiFi Sharing Communities

WiFi sharing is the ultimate expression of the social community rotating around new media: thanks to this initiative, many people are now able to travel around the world without having to worry about the possibility to find broadband Internet connection. The services listed below allow Internet users to share their WiFi connection with others and get in return the possibility to connect to the Internet anywhere else in the world.



FON

fon_log23.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: NO (requires hardware installation)

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: NO

  • Community driven: YES

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: YES

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.fon.com

FON is the largest WiFi community in the world. Its members share their wireless Internet access at home and, in return, enjoy free WiFi wherever they find another FON Access Point. The members of the FON Community are called Foneros and to become such you just need to buy "La Fonera", a WiFi router that enables you to securely share your home broadband connection with other Foneros. As a result, when you're away from home and you need Internet access, just log on to a FON Access Point, and you can use the Internet for free. Users can also access FON hotspots without having to share their home connection, simply by buying an Internet pass. You can join it for free.



Whisher

whisher_logo.gif

  • Country specific/Worldwide: Worldwide

  • Download: YES

  • Visual maps: YES

  • Rating and reviewing: YES

  • Community driven: YES

  • Mobile phones support: NO

  • Registration: YES

  • Users can submit hotspots: YES

  • Price: Free

  • Link: http://www.whisher.com

The Whisher network has been created by people sharing their WiFi connection and provides its users with a software application that helps them get free WiFi access all around the world. All WiFi networks registered through Whisher are protected and the owners (sharers) have full control on who and when can access them. The registration is completely free and users don't need to install any hardware to join the community.



Read more




Photo credit: Originally written by Livia Iacolare for Master New Media and first published as: WiFi Hotspots: WiFi Locators And WiFi Sharing Communities Mini-Guide

 
 
 
Readers' Comments    
blog comments powered by Disqus
 
posted by on Sunday, March 4 2007, updated on Tuesday, May 5 2015


Search this site for more with 

  •  

     

     

     

     

    6914




     
     




    Curated by


    Publisher

    MasterNewMedia.org
    New media explorer
    Communication designer

     

    POP Newsletter

    Robin Good's Newsletter for Professional Online Publishers  

    Name:
    Email:

     

     
    Real Time Web Analytics