Wireless Hotspots

So, what's the difference between an iPad with WiFi and an iPad with 3G plus WiFi. It's a question that seems to come up frequently, so I thought it would be worth finding out some answers to the question.

With the iPad WiFi your connectivity to the internet is limited to areas where you can access the web via WiFi. With the 3G version of the iPad you can connect both via WiFi or the 3G cellular network. That means it should have connectivity anywhere you get cell phone coverage. To get the same coverage with the WiFi version you would need a portable WiFi, like Verizon's MiFi or some of the smart phones that can act like a WiFi.

The 3G iPad costs more to buy. At the time I write this, the difference is about $130 in the US. To use the 3G wireless service you need to have a wireless data plan with you carrier. In the US, AT&T provides data plans for a price. To start they had a $14.99 per month data plan with 250MB of data included and a $30 per month "unlimited" plan. The unlimited plan was discontinued pretty quickly and now you can get 2G of data for $25 per month.

The WiFi version can do some triangulation; you need a 3G iPad to get a really accurate location fix. On the back of the 3G iPad there is a black plastic section that enables the iPad to get a better connection to the wireless network. The 3G version also has a door on the side for you to insert the Micro SIM card. These differences are probably not that big a deal given that you will probably want to use an iPad cover to protect your iPad.

Using the 3G network chews up more battery. From what I have read it cuts battery life from about 10 hours down to between 7 and 8 hours. Not bad, but it does count at the end of a long day. So to sum it up, if you are just using the iPad around the house, get the WiFi version and if you need to use it out in the field you are probably better off getting the 3G version of the iPad.

With the advent of wireless technology allowed customers to shop and browse in selected areas away from a psychical connection to the internet. This freedom was seen by a lot of business as a way of attracting customers to enter their store and not only enjoy time using their product (be it a coffee or a book, magazine etc) but it also keeps the customer longer in the store.

Why is that? Multi tasking (being able to do more than one thing at once) and being exposed to other forms of advertising within your store, plus if a customer is in your store for longer there is a greater chance of a product being sold. If the customer is attracted to what you are selling, the temptation is increased.

For example, a person sits down in a coffee store with a hot beverage and begins using the internet through a 'Wifi' connection (either free or paid for at the store). That person spends half an hour at this store. Finishes their coffee and continues to surf through your wireless connection. This person observes and smells other products in the store and is more likely to stop what he is doing and purchase another product.

Another example is if your business is in an area where there is little competition and your connection requires a purchase, a person is more like to enter your store and purchase a product rather than return home so they could just use the internet. This is especially the case when all they require to do is checking emails or social networking sites. This is how customers are drawn into your business.

The exact opposite works too, if a customer knows that your business has an open high speed 'Wifi' connection, they are more likely to attend if they do not have a connection at home or choose not to use their mobile internet connection. The other factor is that if a person observes other customers surfing laptops or smartphones, their more likely to do the same thing. A mimic effect allows you to create additional revenue.

Are you sick of dealing with lengthy Internet cables or USB wireless devices that are only good for one computer? Wouldn't it be great if there was a product that would allow you to instantly setup your own wireless hot spot regardless of where you are? Imagine having your own portable wifi which would give you instant access to the Internet at home, at the cafe or the work place. Well, there is such a product and it's called a portable wifi device.

There are some obvious and not so obvious benefits to owning such a device. The first benefit is that wherever you have mobile phone coverage, you'll also have Internet access via your portable wifi device. It gets better though; you can share your Internet connection with up to 5 other devices. That means your laptop can be connected as well as your mobile phone. It always means that friends, family or associates are able to connect to the Internet at the same time as you provided you give them permission.

Portable wifi is becoming very popular in Australia and you can find plans from companies such as Internode, Vodafone, Optus and many more. Each company has something a little different on offer so it's important to compare the plans to find one suitable to your needs and budget. For More Information Visit Our Site


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