We hear the term “mobile Internet” a lot these days. Wireless Internet has essentially become mobile. Smartphones allow us to connect to the Internet almost anywhere. (Well, depending on your carrier.)
But here we’re not talking about mobile Internet as it relates to mobile phones. This post is about mobile Internet for your laptop.
Mobile Internet vs. mobile phone Internet
Let’s first understand the difference between the two. Mobile phone Internet is for use on your smartphone– downloading apps, surfing the Web, sending emails, etc.– from anywhere in your carrier’s footprint. Mobile Internet, on the other hand, refers to the ability to use your laptop in a carrier’s footprint.
So what’s the big deal between the two? Let me paint a picture for you. Let’s say you’re on the train into work and need to adjust a PowerPoint presentation and email it to your team before you get there. Are you really going to edit a PowerPoint presentation on a phone? No. And are you really going to send a large PowerPoint presentation with the email client on your phone? Most smartphones still use 3G, so sending a large attachment like that could take a while.
If you had your laptop, you could edit your presentation as you normally would without sacrificing the ability to email it over a fast network.
How does mobile wireless Internet actually work?
It requires a carrier. However, this doesn’t necessary mean a cellphone carrier like Verizon or AT&T. There are other 4G carriers like CLEAR that offer mobile Internet options. These options usually include hotspot devices for creating your own wireless Internet connection, or USB modems that click into your laptop and give you an Internet connection while you’re in the network.
If you’re interested in wireless Internet that’s also mobile, you should definitely check out a technology called WiMAX. WiMAX is basically the same thing as wi-fi, but it’s a step up. Instead of giving you a signal at a small level (i.e. a coffee shop or hotel), WiMAX creates city-sized wireless Internet hotspots. This means no more searching for wi-fi signals. Just plug in your mobile Internet device and you’re good to go. WiMAX isn’t as widespread as wi-fi, but it covers a much larger area where it does exist.
Mobile Internet is the next phase of true take-it-with-you wireless Internet. You can enter your zip code into this site and you’ll be routed to wireless Internet Kansas City, for example. Find the provider in your area that’s right for you.
