JiWire Launches Portable Hotspot Locator

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--

The first in a suite of new "to go" services, the downloadable Hotspot Locator allows mobile professionals to access and search the more than 28,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide -- anytime, anywhere

“Just as you are able to search on Zagat's to find a specific restaurant based on location, service and ambiance, so are mobile professionals able to search on JiWire to find a hotspot that meets their needs”

JiWire, the industry's first one-stop wireless portal, today announced its Portable Hotspot Locator, the first in a new suite of "to go" services, which allow mobile professionals the ability to find an Internet connection when they are offline.

The JiWire Portable Hotspot Locator allows users to download JiWire's comprehensive Wi-Fi hotspot directory to their laptop computer for offline access anytime, anywhere. (http://www.jiwire.com/jiwire-hotspots-offline-wap-avantgo-hotspot-directory-laptop.htm) (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field.) In addition to finding locations closest to search parameters, users can access detailed information about venues such as hotels airports and cafes, verified by JiWire's global staff.

With 71 percent of mobile professionals finding that Wi-Fi is integral to their travel (Intel Survey 2003), and with the number of hotspot users expected to grow 223% to 30 million worldwide by the end of 2004 (Gartner), the Portable Hotspot Locator fills a growing need for a comprehensive wireless directory that is accessible on-the-go.

"Just as you are able to search on Zagat's to find a specific restaurant based on location, service and ambiance, so are mobile professionals able to search on JiWire to find a hotspot that meets their needs," said J. Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., Principal Analyst at MobileTrax. "Having this information now available offline, makes it convenient to find hotels, airports or cafes that will provide them with the Wi-Fi access and amenities they are looking for."

"Six months ago when we launched JiWire, we saw a need to capture the 11,000 hotspots existing at the time into one comprehensive directory," said Kevin McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of JiWire. "Today, with public Internet access points topping 28,000 worldwide, our directory is more important than ever. We are excited to now provide this important service offline, so that road warriors without an Internet connection can find one that meets their needs."

The Portable Hotspot Locator is available to download for the laptop, and is also available on the PDA as an AvantGo channel and in WAP format for the cell phone. Co-branded laptop versions of the Portable Hotspot Locator will also be available through JiWire's hotspot directory licensees including USATODAY.com, PC World, and CNET Networks.

The Most Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Wi-Fi Directory Available Today

Through relationships with more than 400 individual Wireless Internet Service Providers, JiWire is able to offer users the world's most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to free and commercial hotspot locations. Unlike other hotspot directories on the web, many of the locations listed are personally visited and verified by JiWire staff.

About JiWire

As the market leader in breadth and depth of wireless information, JiWire fills a glaring need for a one-stop unbiased source of information to guide today's technology adopters. With customers including AvantGo, CNET Networks, PC World, and USATODAY.com, JiWire offers the largest international hotspot directory detailing more than 28,000 Wi-Fi access points in 53 countries. In addition, authoritative how-to guides, product reviews, and industry news demystify the hype and enable mobile professionals and wireless enthusiasts to leverage a Web without wires. JiWire is the first to aggregate an online hotspot directory, wireless industry resources, product reviews, tutorials and community services in one site. Please visit us at www.jiwire.com