Travelers and nomadic workers of the world, unite! It's time to throw away your Ethernet cables and find a Wi-Fi hot spot near you. These convenient and ready-to-roll wireless Internet connections make it easier than ever to cut the cord. The best part? Such wireless broadband connections often come with a table, a comfortable chair, and a large caffeinated beverage.

We tested three hot-spot providers--Boingo, T-Mobile, and Wayport--with an eye to the data needs of the typical mobile worker and vacationing family. Over the course of several weeks, we used four notebooks and a handheld computer to make hundreds of connections at four locations for each provider. We rated each company on throughput using CNET's Bandwidth Meter, the actual download speed, and their ability to accomplish a variety of online tasks, such as cruising several large Web sites, watching full-screen video, listening to Internet radio, working with Java and Flash Web sites, and sending and receiving e-mail.

First, the good news: Getting online takes little effort. In most cases, you just need a Wi-Fi-enabled notebook and an account with a wireless Internet service provider (WISP). In our tests, all three WISPs beamed a reliable and fast connection, especially compared to a traditional dial-up modem or cell phone link. What's the bad news? WISPs charge as much as $10 per connection or up to $50 a month--twice what a dial-up account costs.

Read the full review:
Boingo Wireless
T-Mobile HotSpot
Wayport