Think about it for a moment: when was the last time you went more than an hour or two without using the internet? Most of us who have a smartphone pull it out and check emails or get on various social media apps any time we have a few minutes of downtime. And that doesn’t encompass the number of different online programs used by just about every profession and workplace. Of course, that doesn’t just go for working professionals, either. Students start learning word processing and computer skills in elementary school these days, and by the time high school comes around, access to the internet is a vital part of the school day. For the vast majority of Americans, an internet connection is an integral part of everyday life. So what do you do when the internet becomes a costly commodity you have to ration—or avoid the use of altogether?
Internet Connections And Travel
It probably seems pretty incomprehensible that you’d ever enter into a situation in which you need the internet but have to pay through the nose for it. After all, as long as you have your cell phone service, hopping online is probably as easy as tapping an app on your smartphone. But, as soon as you take your cell phone across international borders, tapping that same app becomes exponentially more expensive thanks to international roaming charges. But when you’re traveling for business or even if you’ll be away from home for more than a few days, finding an internet connection can have a big impact on your trip. For many travelers today, this is where an international WiFi hotspot device comes in to play.
What’s A Hotspot?
If you’ve ever been to your local Starbucks and connected to their internet, you’ve made use of a WiFi hotspot before. In the most technical sense, a WiFi hotspot is any sort of local WiFi connection. Your home WiFi signal is technically a hotspot, even if most of us don’t tend to think of it that way. Most commonly, the terms wireless hotspot and WiFi hotspot are used to describe the signal emitted from specific devices for on-the-go or traveling internet connections. Most smartphones today can create a wireless hotspot as needed, though that will eat up your monthly data allowance. In addition, there are portable WiFi modem devices on the market whose sole purpose is to generate a localized wireless internet signal. The idea behind these technological advances is that, with a pocket-sized device, you can have an internet signal that goes wherever you need it to.
Taking Internet With You
One of the most common groups who make use of wireless internet hotspot devices is travelers who need to be able to get online while they’re away from home. This makes perfect sense, as this is essentially what portable WiFi hotspot devices were created for. So, in answer to the earlier question about where a WiFi hotspot can be used, the short answer is that they can be used pretty much anywhere. It’s probably easier to answer where a hotspot device can’t be used, rather than where it can.
First, a caveat. Not all hotspot devices are created equally. Before you invest in a wireless internet hotspot device, stop and take the time to do your due diligence. Some devices are only made to work in some regions, and others will require a different SIM card to function in each new location. You’ll also want to check the payment options, as a vast majority of both regional and international WiFi hotspot devices require a contract to provide service, in much the same way as a cell phone plan works. What this means is, if you’ll be traveling to multiple locations, you’ll want to find an international WiFi hotspot device that will work wherever you plan on going and verify whether there will be additional roaming charges to provide service in each new region.
Where Hotspots Can’t Be Used
Wireless internet hotspot devices are made to work just about everywhere, because you never quite know when or where you’ll need an internet connection. That being said, there are a few places that your hotspot probably won’t work and a few others where it’s likely to be frowned upon. For instance, no matter how fancy your hotspot device is, it probably won’t work in flight or on any sort of boating trip that takes you far out on open water. While a portable WiFi modem may or may not work in transit in a car or on a train depending on speed and destination, you will still have to contend with connection issues. In addition, you’ll want to be courteous when it comes to using your international WiFi hotspot device in tourist destinations, particularly religiously centered destinations like churches, mosques, and synagogues. Otherwise, a good general guideline is this: if you can use your smartphone’s internet connection, you can probably use a portable WiFi modem device similarly.
At Sapphire Mobile Hotspot, our goal is to help you stay connected wherever your travels take you. We know that an internet connection can be the means through which you call home while you’re traveling, get work done, and even bring a piece of home with you wherever you go. Learn more about our portable WiFi hotspot device, no-contract payment options, and all the places we can get you connected. Read more about the benefits and shop Sapphire Mobile Hotspot online today!