3 ways to add broadband to your mobile devices
Smartphone users have gotten used to having 3G/4G connectivity whenever they’re away from a Wi-Fi network. However, if you’re using a tablet or a laptop, that’s often a different story.
Not all mobile devices offer broadband access to cellular data networks as a built-in option. And when the option is available, not everyone is prepared to bump the purchase price to have those capabilities. According to Jeff Orr, group director for consumer research, ABI Research, “29% of media tablets sold worldwide during 2011 had a 3G or 4G modem module in them.” That’s about 1.2 million, he adds.
That leaves a lot of mobile device users in search of Internet access when they’re not near a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’re one of these, you have three options:
Use your smartphone as a broadband modem by tethering it to your device.
Purchase a USB external mobile broadband adapter, along with a carrier service plans.
Purchase a broadband wireless hotspot device (along with a carrier service plan), which creates a small Wi-Fi service zone and allows several (typically, up to four or five) devices to share the connection.
Each approach has its pros and cons. In general, you’re pitting simplicity against flexibility, impact on phone battery against longer runtime, and the cost of using one higher-volume service plan against having multiple plans.
Within each category, service availability and pricing are likely to strongly affect your decision.
Tethering with your smartphone
Tethering — sharing your smartphone’s broadband service with other devices — can be done using a phone-to-USB cable or wirelessly via Wi-Fi (or, for some devices, Bluetooth).
You can tether your phone to another device if the carrier allows it, the smartphone supports it and you’ve got a service plan that includes tethering. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon all offer tethering options as part of their smartphone data plans.
Tethering apps for smartphones
If you want to try to tether without changing your data plan, there are some tethering apps out there.
Android apps include ClockworkMod Tether, Easy Tether and PdaNet. iOS apps include Tether Me and MiWi.
But be aware that your service carrier may not approve of the use of these apps, possibly leaving you open to carrier fines. In addition, iPhone users will have to jailbreak their devices first, something that Apple definitely doesn’t approve of — and which may create other problems with your device.
The rest is here: 3 ways to add broadband to your mobile devices
