JiWire Hotspot Finder for Skype

If you spend as much time talking and chatting on Skype as you do emailing, the new JiWire Hotspot Finder for Skype is for you. Just add "JiWire Hotspot Finder" to your contact list in ANY chat-capable Skype client (including PC, Mac and Windows Mobile), and you can instantly start making simple text queries to find the hotspot nearest you by chatting with the Finder. For example, typing "Berkeley, CA" brings up a list of sites in that city.

You can also add keywords like "free," "T-Mobile," or "McDonald's" to narrow your search. Just type "?" to get a handy help file with a long list of keywords. More sample queries:

'cafes in SW1 (where 'SW1' is part of a postcode)'
'free brussels 1150'
'tmobile within 20 miles of austin tx'
'starbucks in leeds uk'
'skypezone in Canberra'

Skype Extra for Windows XP/Vista

But the real payoff comes when you are using Windows XP or Vista, and download the JiWire Hotspot Finder for Skype Extra. This add-in for the Windows Skype client lets you see hotspot search results on an interactive map, find relevant points of interest like gas stations and restaurants, look up local traffic and weather, and even pinpoint your own location! After installing, the following welcome screen will pop up next to your Skype window, providing an overview of features:

Type a query, like Berkeley, CA, and you'll see results both in the chat window and on a map. Move your mouse over a location icon to view details like name and address.

At any time, you can also click the ? button in the upper right corner to get a handy list of search terms to help refine your query.

Next, try clicking the "Find Nearby" button, then typing "gas," to find local gas stations. You can also get local directions, traffic, weather and more.

Finally, click the "Find Me" button to view your location and nearby hotspots on the map. This feature works in most urban areas, as well as many others.

Wi-Fi Tools

The JiWire Skype Extra also contains a number of handy features for checking and managing your Wi-Fi connection. Clicking on the Wi-Fi Tools tab at the top switches modes, and presents you with a laundry list of connection details, like your SSID, encryption method, IP address, and MAC address. You'll also find lots of handy links to JiWire's many Wi-Fi resources.

Want to see what other networks are around, along with signal strength and compression method? Just click on the Connection Manager button for a complete list. Available networks for which you have profiles in your system are marked in yellow.