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New WiFi Directory launched to help find a hotspot - in US

That is, it's a place to find a place get online - if you live in North America. There is a map of WiFi hotspots in the UK, too; that's on ZDNet. Well, it will be, when they update it. Meanwhile, there's a database of in version 2.0 of The WiFi HotSpot Directory, a free database of over 2700 public wireless internet access locations.

Tracy Wilson, director of marketing for Riverwalk Software claims that their first edition attracted thousands of downloadsbecause "we fill a need. In this edition we have added over 500 new sites including several new service providers. Our coverage in Canada for example is greatly improved through cooperation with FatPort."

Directory v2.0 is designed to be run on any mobile hardware. The database is free - for now - and comes in several formats: Microsoft Excel, Palm Address Book, Handmark's MobileDB and comma delimited ASCII formats. Version 2.0 now includes also comes in XML and also "supports the beta version of Microsoft Office 2003" - which probably means it works with Office, but they aren't guaranteeing it.

Users have the ability to either receive the directory and updates monthly from Riverwalk Software directly.

HotSpot providers can have their sites added to the database by emailing wifi@busdevcenter.com. Freeware providers can add the directory to their site by contacting busdev@makewireless.com.