hotspot

Hotspot Shield VPN is a free iOS app with a single aim: to protect your online presence. Even novice users will be pleased to navigate through the simple interface the app ships with, but in order to understand all the key aspects of the app, they will be tempted to access the help section, which offers a brief introduction on how the app works and what it provides.

However, security comes at a price, even though it shouldn't: during our testing, we got several error reports, which surely suggests the app needs some polishing work. Secondly, while we are … Read more

From urban to suburban, Google and Boingo continue to work on their nationwide free Wi-Fi project. The two companies announced today that free hotspots are coming to eight malls in the U.S, according to GigaOm.

It's not yet clear which malls will get the service, but Google and Boingo did say that at least four will be in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Seattle.

This news comes on the heels of the Google and Boingo partnering to bring free Wi-Fi to several of New York City's subway stations as well as to 200 other above-ground hotspots … Read more

Apple and Samsung are running away with the smartphone market, but does that mean that consumers should steer clear of all the other handset makers?

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I help one reader decide if he should take a gamble and ditch Apple for an HTC One X. Will he still get the same level of service he has had with Apple?

I also explain to another reader that the Wi-Fi hotspot feature is included in the price of the new family share plans.

Steer Clear of HTC because of its sales troubles?

Dear Maggie, I've been … Read more

What do 3G hot spots and firearms have in common? They're both banned from the London 2012 Olympic games.

Personal wireless access points and 3G hot spots are among the list of restricted items for the games, which start Friday. Visitors are allowed to bring smartphones and tablets, but are not able to use them as a hot spot to connect other devices. Intomobile first reported on the ban.

"We're just two days away from the start of the first ever Olympic Games in the modern, digital era," said Tomas Mendoza, managing director of Tep Wireless, … Read more

Just when the whole world laughs at those dinosaurian payphones -- marveling at how antiquated we used to be -- New York City has put them to a new innovative use.

The city announced today that it was starting a pilot program transforming those metal relics of yesteryear into free unlimited Wi-Fi kiosks.

Initially, 10 locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens will get the service, and more hotspots will be added in coming months.

Abandoned payphones have been a point of contention for many of the city's residents for a while now. According to a New York news site … Read more

Recently I plunked down at a Starbucks with plans to work for a couple hours while my son was up the street at a birthday party. Just one problem: their Wi-Fi was down.

Without Internet, it's downright impossible for me to work. That's why I always pack a mobile hot spot, which I can use in a pinch when there's no Wi-Fi available.

Of course, I don't want to pay $50 per month for two years for a service I use only occasionally. Enter TruConnect, a company that offers no-contract service and pay-as-you-go rates.

The hardware … Read more

I am the type who generally cares more about functionality than style, but once in a while, I am intrigued by the look, too. Case in point: the Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 890L from Verizon Wireless.

This is a mobile router that gets attention, looking more like a beauty product for the ladies than something that would appeal to geeks. The good news is that it offers more than just looks.

The Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 890L comes with a very well-designed LCD screen that shows you all you need to know about the status of your wireless connections and even allows for changing many of its settings. It's the first I've seen that enables users to manage their mobile network without having to use a computer. … Read more

In a thinly veiled attempt to get users excited about new mobile hotspot add-ons for smartphones and tablets, Sprint announced that it is swapping its 5GB for $29.99 per month data plan for two more costly options.

As of May 18, Sprint launched two hotspot add-ons, the first costs $19.99 per month for 2GB of combined 3G/4G on-network data and the second is $49.99 per month for 6GB of combined data. The 5GB $29.99 is now defunct, but users who have this plan can keep it until they cancel their service.

"Sprint's new … Read more

If you are a fan of Samsung's tiny mobile router, the SCH-LC11 mobile hot spot and for some reason don't want to use Verizon, there's now another choice.

U.S. Cellular today announced the launch of the same device on its own network. The company said that for a limited time, the device is slated to cost $50, after a $50 mail-in rebate, in cities that currently have U.S. Cellular's 4G LTE coverage and those that will by the end of the year.

For now, U.S. Cellular offers 4G LTE service in select cities … Read more