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All posts tagged "hotspot"


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

So How Does That Personal Hotspot Feature Work?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 07:30 AM

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/03/29/ipho...ut-to-the-test/

"It's a good thing that I decided to sign up for AT&T's implementation of the iOS 4.3 Personal Hotspot feature while I was standing in line for my iPad 2 a couple of weeks ago."

It cost him $45.00 USD extra per month but he is pretty happy with it, and from what he has written the process is pretty easy. How about you, have you signed up for the Personal Hotspot option, and if so, what are your thoughts on it? I'm still hesitant about letting go of my unlimited data plan, but as I monitor my usage I'm finding that I don't even approach the 2GB limit on the plan that is required for the Personal Hotspot option.


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Create a Hotspot With Your iPad

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 06:00 AM

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ne...n-to-ipad-plan/

"AT&T has announced that it will allow iPads to utilize the Personal Hotspot feature of iOS 4.3."

This is interesting news, as I was just talking to coworker about it and wondering if it would also be offered with the iPad. So if you choose the $25.00 USD 2GB plan and add the $20.00 USD tethering option, you can get the extra 2GB of data added and use your iPad as a hotspot. The only reason I would use the hotspot feature on my iPhone would be to use with my laptop and iPad, but I was very hesitant to give up my unlimited data plan that I kept with the iPhone 4. Now I'm thinking that I may just get a 3G version so I still have that hotspot option without losing my unlimited plan. And to top it off you get the first month free.


Monday, March 7, 2011

AT&T Restricting Hotspot to Three Devices? Or Are They...

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/...hree-wifi-devi/

"Say it ain't so! According to this here slide, which details a bit of insidery AT&T information about the impending release of iOS 4.3, Ma Bell's iPhone 4 will have its Personal Hotspot restricted to use with just three devices."

I don't know that it is that big of a deal, I normally would only have one or two devices sharing my hotspot anyway. And it turns out based on documentation with iOS 4.3 it's actually the software that limits you to 3 devices and not AT&T. If you want to have 5 devices, you have to use Bluetooth or USB to add the other two. This was found on the Apple site about iOS 4.3: "You can share your connection with up to five devices at once over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB - with up to three of those connections using Wi-Fi."


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Convenience Charge For Hot Spot From Verizon is $20.00 USD

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/ver...The+Apple+Core)

"After finally confirming its rumored $30 per month unlimited iPhone data plan, Verizon Wireless said that it will charge $20 per month for its personal hotspot feature (in addition to its required voice and data plans, that is)."

Don't really know what to call it but a convenience charge since you already would be paying for the data plan. This stuff really rubs me the wrong way. The upside though, is that you can use this with an unlimited data plan for $30.00 USD, at least for the near future since Verizon has already said they plan to switch to tiered pricing at some point. But for now that is one advantage over the AT&T option which has the data limit when you opt for tethering. I suppose you can always go the route of jail breaking one of your old iPhones, in which case this article might help. I think jail breaking may be the way to go for me, or at least it is one option I'm considering. What are your thoughts? Anyone out there familiar with doing this, and if so, is it worth the work?


Friday, January 14, 2011

Hotspot Option Creates Choices, MiFi or iPhone?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 06:00 AM

http://gigaom.com/mobile/goodbye-mi...GigaOM:+Mobile)

"Wednesday's anticipated Verizon iPhone launch event offered one surprise: users can share the 3G data connection with five devices, turning the iPhone into a mobile hotspot."

And so the dilemma is to keep the MiFi Mobile Hotspot or go ahead and make the jump to the iPhone 4. I too, am going through the process, trying to determine if I should keep my Verizon MiFi. On one hand, it would be handy to have another iPhone just in case something happened to my current iPhone on AT&T, allowing me to still have communication capabilities, something I cannot do with my MiFi. And I wouldn't have to carry more than one charger like I do now. And the issue about not being able to use voice and data simultaneously would be moot since this isn't going to be a primary phone. What are your thoughts?


Thursday, January 13, 2011

So What is a Hotspot?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.macworld.com/article/157...logs_ioscentral

"The appearance of an iPhone on Verizon this week was big news, but dig past it and you quickly found that...well, there wasn't that much else to find. We still don't know, for example, what data plans Verizon will offer for the iPhone, or how much they'll cost."

If you are confused as to your need for a hotspot, or don't even know what one is, this will educate you. Brief rundown of the hotspot issue with the new iOS and how Verizon and AT&T currently handle the capability of creating hotspots (or tethering in the case of AT&T) as well as the current costs.


iOS 4.3 Has Some Surprises

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 08:52 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...h_gestures.html

"Apple on Wednesday released the first beta of iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, bringing support for Personal Hotspot, new multi-touch gestures, the ability for third-party applications to use AirPlay, and a software option for changing the functionality of the iPad hardware switch."

Within this version of iOS 4.3, they are including some new gestures for iPad involving 4 and 5 finger gestures, which sounds odd to me, but I guess I should reserve judgement until the final product is out. What it also apparently does though, is bring back the orientation lock, as it gives you the option to set it up as either a mute switch or orientation lock in the settings. So glad they are giving us this option back. There are some other additions, notably the ability to create a personal "hotspot" just like the Verizon iPhone will do, so apparently this isn't carrier specific. Some good additions to this version of the iOS I think, but the bad news is it appears that the 3G owners are left out in the cold as it appears it is only compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, third- and fourth-gen iPod touches, and iPads.


Monday, December 20, 2010

Free Mobile Hotspot With Best Buy iPad Purchase

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 09:08 AM

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/12/20/ipad...ot-at-best-buy/

"Best Buy is offering a sweet bundle on the WiFi-based iPad which includes your choice of a free companion AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint mobile hotspot."

Looks like you have your choice from Verizon, Sprint and AT&T, and of course you have to sign up for a monthly data plan and commit for two years. But if you were planning on picking up a Wi-Fi only iPad for someone, this is a pretty good bonus and gives you some flexibility versus the 3G version since you can use these hotspots for other devices. And since you no longer have to worry about the restocking fees Best Buy is infamous for, there is even less risk!


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Free Wi-Fi in Times Square

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "The Competition" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/05...n-times-square/

"If you can't get a signal in Manhattan, blame AT&T. They've pretty much admitted that their network in New York is completely inadequate, and now, three years in, they're taking some concrete steps to alleviate the problem - for tourists, at least."

According to the AT&T press release, the hot zone is in the "north central part of Times Square, near 7th Avenue between 45th and 47th Street, to provide a large outdoor hotspot zone that AT&T users can access using any Wi-Fi enabled device." Hope they are ready for overload.


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Boingo Wi-Fi

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 08:00 AM

http://mashable.com/2010/03/29/boin...able+(Mashable)

"There's a new iPhone, iPod touch and iPad app in the Apple App Store that you can use to buy access to Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots: Boingo Wi-Fi Credits."

I could find some use for this if I was traveling, and you get one hour credit when you download the free app. Extra hours are just $1.99 USD, unless you buy 10 at a time in which case you get one free, decreasing the per hour cost. This company, Boingo, has hotspots all over the world according to the app info, mainly in the airports. They also offer laptop plans as well as a variety of other combination plans. 


Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Apple, King of Wi-Fi

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple News" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.electronista.com/article....lead.hotspots/

"Regardless of its actual market share, Apple all but commands use at Wi-Fi hotspots in cafes and coffee shops in the US, according to new data from JiWire."

According to the study, the iPod Touch and iPhone combined to account for 97.6% of all handheld usage in Wi-Fi hotspots, while the Mac use is right at 25% of all notebook usage. They also note some interesting stats about Wi-Fi, such as the US leading in the number of hotspots with 67,420 versus the UK which has 27,459. They also compared cities in the US, and found New York in the lead with 887 hotspots versus the number two San Francisco with 872.

Tags: wi-fi, hotspot, jiwire

Thursday, June 18, 2009

AT&T WiFi Made Easy With 3.0

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch)" @ 12:00 PM

http://9to5mac.com/ATT-802.21-proto...3G-apple-iphone

"It looks like AT&T might be using the 802.21 protocol to relax the pressure put on their 3G network by the iPhone. The new iPhone 3.0 OS software contains the ability for iPhones to autoswitch from 3G to Wifi when an AT&T Wifi network is in range, without user intervention."

Once you have visited an AT&T hotspot, the next time you won't have to go through the normal two-step sign on process. With the iPhone 3.0, after you have visited the network at any of the 20,000 AT&T hotspots, it will "seamlessly" switch you from cellular to the Wi-Fi the next time you stop by the same location. It started yesterday for anyone that has the 3.0 software installed. AT&T has posted a news release outlining all the details.


Friday, May 15, 2009

Create Your Own Mobile Hotspot

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Other Apple Hardware" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/t...pogue.html?_r=1

"Someday, we'll tell our grandchildren how we had to drive around town looking for a coffee shop when we needed to get online, and they'll laugh their heads off. Every building in America has running water, electricity and ventilation; what's the holdup on universal wireless Internet?"

And so begins the review David Pogue wrote for the New York Times on a clever little device called the MiFi, which allows you to create your own wireless network. This Novatel device creates a wireless network with a range of up to 30 feet, and will allow up to five users access. Verizon will be offering this in mid-May, and it will be available in a variety of pricing levels, from daily pay as you go usage to the $60.00/month USD plan for up to 5 Gigs of usage. Anything on the monthly plan will require the obligatory two year commitment of course.


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