Online Anywhere: The Complete Guide to Mobile Internet

Posted 07/21/2011 at 4:52pm | by Tim Ferrill

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In a very short time frame we’ve become constantly connected; always on and high speed, we need to be able to get our internet fix anytime, anywhere. Most of us are more than a little reliant on our Internet connections; it’s certainly not far from the truth to say that we take this access for granted. For example, how many of us would be horrified if we had to go back to a 56K modem? (To those of you who are currently rocking such a vintage connection speed, our condolences).

While there are many methods of getting a high-speed connection when you’re away from your home service, they all have their pros and cons. We’re going to break down some of the different devices and services that provide internet access across all fifty states, delivering that delicious online content you crave.

3D Map of the World Wide Web - image courtesy vlib.us

Free Wi-Fi: Location, Location, Location

It seems like every week we hear about a new restaurant chain offering free Wi-Fi, but they’re not all created equal. Some require registration before use, while others actually go above and beyond simply providing a dumb Internet pipe. What you get out of the connection will differ between the services.

Starbucks

Ok, everybody knows that you can get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks. (Hey, we’re not hanging out there for the coffee.) The service is powered by AT&T’s Wi-Fi network, and requires a single click to connect. No username and password, no registration, no credit card required. But there's more available than just a Wi-Fi connection.

Starbucks partnered with Yahoo to create the Starbucks Digital Network. When using Starbucks Wi-Fi you will also have free access to paid areas of The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, ESPN, and many other sites. Simply visit starbucks.yahoo.com while using a Starbucks Wi-Fi connection.

Barnes and Noble

While lacking the access to the digital content that Starbucks does,  Barnes and Noble’s AT&T provided Wi-Fi is available at all of their stores – and provides you with the rarified experience of hanging out in one of the few remaining brick-and-mortar bookstores. 

Additional Locations

There are already tons of places that offer free Wi-Fi, and more are added every day. McDonalds, Panera Bread, many local libraries, even Taco Bell is joining the show with free Wi-Fi at all 5600 of their locations. There are a number of resources for tracking down the best spots for free Wi-Fi. Web sites like wififreespot.com and openwifispots.com will let you search based on location or venue type.

There are also smart phone apps and websites such as openwifispots.com that will let you find a hotspot while on the go. It’s worth mentioning that you should always use good security practices when using a public Wi-Fi network. Using websites with HTTPS/SSL encryption will protect login information for banking or social-networking sites. Keeping your system patched and your firewall up is also highly recommended in a public environment.

More Wi-Fi: Paid Services

Sometimes a paid Wi-Fi service is the only option available. A travesty, we know, but the bigger issue is deciding which option is the best choice for you. We’ll break down three paid Wi-Fi services that offer subscription based services across the U.S., which leaves out Comcast (which doesn’t have such a service), and Verizon (which only allows access for Verizon home internet customers) and point you in the right direction. It’s good to keep in mind that while the services below don’t have caps or coverage fees some of them do charge fees for roaming (but that is dependent on what network you’re roaming on, and can change on a daily basis).

AT&T

As we’ve mentioned, AT&T provides free Wi-Fi services at a huge number of popular locations across the country. What you may not know is that AT&T also has a paid Wi-Fi service, known as AT&T Wi-Fi Premier. At $19.99 per month Wi-Fi Premier gives you access to AT&T’s entire Wi-Fi network, not just free locations like Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. Premier subscribers also get the ability to roam on partner networks in airports and hotels around the U.S. AT&T also offers a basic Wi-Fi service, which provides customers already using a qualifying home or mobile service free access to AT&T’s Wi-Fi hotspots.

T-Mobile

Regular travelers looking to get Internet access on the cheap may be better off going with T-Mobile’s service. (At least while they can, AT&T has recently put forth efforts to purchase T-Mobile - which may impact available service going forward, or may do nothing more than merge the two networks). 

Our hope would be that this would simply increase AT&T’s coverage and grandfather in T-Mobile’s customer base. Many U.S. airports use T-Mobile to provide wireless service, or provide subscribers access through roaming agreements. T-Mobile’s Wi-Fi service costs $9.99 per month for T-Mobile voice subscribers or $39.99 per month if you aren’t already a customer.

Boingo

It may not have the brand recognition that AT&T or T-Mobile have, but make no mistake Boingo is one major up-and-comer among paid Wi-Fi services. Offering over 28,000 hotspots in the U.S. alone, Boingo serves public spaces, shopping malls, universities, and restaurants. Boingo offers a $9.95 laptop plan a $7.95 mobile plan, and a $17.90 combo plan that will allow you to use both a laptop and mobile device simultaneously.