A hotspot vendor Friday launched what it said will be a nationwide network of free, advertising-sponsored hotspots in locations such as shopping centers, airports and cafes.

FreeFi Networks said in a statement it will develop and manage the free hotspots in qualifying locations at no cost to the venue owner other than the cost of a broadband connection. FreeFi says it will support the network with advertising that appears in what it called a "narrow, persistent band of content" across the bottom of the user's screen.

That content could include advertising as well as other types of information, such as information about the local area, the company said in a statement. The company said that the content bar does not involve adware or spyware and will not be present on the user's laptop when not connected to the FreeFi network.

"It's another option for business owners considering offering Wi-Fi as a valuable amenity with zero cost or risk," Larry Laffer, FreeFi's president, said in a statement.

Besides managing the hotspot for free, FreeFi said it will share advertising revenue with venue owners. It did not say, however, how many locations were using the service, although it cited several locations of a California restaurant chain, Togo's Eateries, as offering the service.