By way of a tip from friend Beth, I tested out the new JIWIRE hotspot search on my Sidekick and the search form and results render OK on the Sidekick!

Besides many expected hits for places like Starbucks, Borders, and hotel chains, the results also integrate well with the integrated MapQuest engine to provide proximity search via zipcode. So if you end up in an unfamiliar part of a town with your WiFi-equiped laptop or PDA, you can search a 1 mile radius to see what's around within walking distance. Or search wider and get driving directions too. All on your trusty Sidekick.

The database is new and still being updated, so the listings for McDonalds Wireless are incomplete, and Panera Bread's free access locations are absent.

More than a MapQuest-backed WiFi hotspot database, JIWIRE is an on demand portal to WiFi-enabled food and lodging. There are also some nice tutorials and references on the site.

- mike lee - baltimore