Wireless hotspots are popping up all over, not just in places like Starbucks in Chicago. Yes, I'll admit it - I'm from Grand Rapids, Michigan. But regardless of what I've heard Michigan celebrities like Madonna and Anthony Kiedis say on their E! True Hollywood Story, I actually like living in this state. Michigan's come a long way in just the last 10 years.

One way that Grand Rapids is growing up is the arrival of coffee shops offering free wireless internet access. While there are places like hotels, airports and others that offer similar services, I'd like to focus on places that are relaxing and cheaper.

Here's a list of free coffee house hotspots in the Grand Rapids area. Stop in, buy a coffee and a bagel, sit down with your wireless device, and browse happily.

Click on the location for a Google map of the hotspot.

Note that there are other ways of getting free wireless access, like just driving around and sniffing for available wireless networks (as a sample set, I found there are over 70 available access points within a two-mile radius of my house). There's plenty out there you can connect freely to - people setting these up are either unknowing or uncaring about protecting their networks (you can read more about wireless security). You might think the existence of these open access points make this list completely pointless, right? Well, possibly. But if you ever need a relaxing place to sit and a drink a cup-o-Joe, as opposed to hunching uncomfortably in your car or huddling conspicuously in someone's bushes, you can always look here for recommendations! Besides, I want to focus on the intentional and legal public hotspots. I'll leave the wardriving and conspicuous huddling to others.

For even more Grand Rapids hotspots (coffee and non-coffee related), check out http://grwifi.net.

With the arrival of free hotspots, you don't need much to have your very own Mobile Communications Station. Here's my current preferred configuration: Just open your laptop.