How do you get MLS data when on the road? Do you rely on hotspots? Aircard? PDA?

I have a pretty nice laptop that I use at home with my WiFi network. I would like to be able to use it on the road when we're showing homes and the client asks... "What about that one? Can we see it?" But, of course, without an internet connection I can't look it up. I wish I could just download the MLS onto my laptop's hard drive, but as far as I know I can't. I've only seen this option with PDAs. Am I missing something? It seems like such a simple request but I can't find the solution.

I think if you have a data device like the palm treo you can connect it to your laptop and then use the palm's internet connection to dl to your laptop, but you would still need the pda and internet access.

I think that the best option is the Aircard -- I have a Treo which allows the supra ekey option. I just got the professional version $25. a month and each morning I download all the listings on it. I can then search by ML# or address or a search criteria. Only used it 2 days so far but it's great from what I can see. Additionally it doesn't require any data plan as I sync it in the morning from my laptop on my home wireless network.

Check with your local mls... ours has 2 versions, one live internet and one desktop. The desktop is dl'd and you just go in and update it at their terminal as needed.

Also, I have a wireless card in my laptop too, and you'd be amazed at the locations I pick up a wireless service.

our mls has a desktop version that you can load onto your laptop. You install the disc, then update it everyday.

CARealtor - call Metrolist!

They are so helpful and I'm pretty sure they have this feature.

Will do! I've looked for any reference to this feature and haven't found anything, so I didn't think it was available. But who knows, maybe it is.

Response from Metrolist:
"No. You can search listings from the field if you have an internet enabled device like a phone or a PDA with a browser. Just go to http://prospector.metrolist.net/pda "

I guess I'm SOL on this one.