This week we’ve been looking at the perils of hopping online using Wi-Fi hotspots. These public access points might seem convenient, but we’ve had readers complaining of slow, expensive and awkward surfing.
After pulling together all the stats, juggling the pricing details and speaking to people in the know, we’ve picked our Wi-Fi hotspot choice. If you need wireless access on the go, and don’t fancy mobile broadband, jump in now and we’ll tell you our top choice.
Since we brought you news on just how speedy Wi-Fi hotspots are earlier this week, we’ve had loads of comments about the wireless points, comparing hotspots to mobile broadband, complaining about snail’s pace access and sounding off about different operators. Dive in now to see what’s got your fellow Electricpig readers’ respective goat.
We’ve revealed this week just how Wi-Fi hotspots are often hamstrung by sluggish speeds which just can’t live up to our insatiable appetite for the web. And on top of that, we’ve seen that the prices the big players charge don’t necessarily get you much bang for your buck.
So just what kind of value do Wi-Fi hotspots offer? And what could you get for the same monthly fee elsewhere? Are Wi-Fi hotspots really a better route to the web than a trusty 3G dongle? We’ve stacked up the stats, crunched the numbers, and delved behind the scenes to see which providers are taking the Mickey with low Wi-Fi speeds, and which are still trumping our tried and tested 3G sticks.
Yesterday we brought you news of Britain’s Wi-Fi hotspots being scuppered by slow speeds. So today, we’ve put all the big players head-to-head, to see just who offers the best value access, compared to the speeds on offer.
UPDATE: We’ve put the prices of every major Wi-Fi hotspot provider together to see just who comes out on top and what you get for your cash. You’ll be surprised at the results. Take a gander now!
Chances are, if you’ve used your laptop on the move, you’ve encountered Wi-Fi hotspots. They’re handy, speedy routes to the the internet. Aren’t they? After a bit of digging, we’ve found these access points don’t always meet expectations, and it’s not just due to dodgy routers in your local coffee shop. We’ve taken a long hard look at the major hotspot providers, and what we’ve found gave us cause for concern.
Sick of plonking yourself down in your favourite coffee chain only to find you need to stump up for the Wi–Fi? Well a new deal between Starbucks and BT Openzone means that such online disasters are over. Read on and we’ll tell you just how this new hook up works.
O2 has announced a deal with BT that allows O2 customers to use BT’s Openzone hotspots as part of their mobile tariff – that means you can now hook up online while waiting for your Vanilla Frappuccino at Starbucks.
BT has just pulled the wrappers off the cheapest home and mobile broadband package in the UK – a recession-busting deal that delivers 8Mb wireless home broadband, HSDPA mobile broadband and a USB dongle for only £15.65 a month.