|
|
 |
|
|
Menu:
In This Section:
|
Wi-Fi or Cellular?Wireless access to the Internet (for the home based business owner that is) comes in two, very distinct "flavors".
The basic differences in the two services are outlined in the table below:
Word of warning! If you don't need to send big files around and/or be in constant touch with your customers and business partners, think about staying "wired" with your data. Costs for these services CAN add up FAST! If you're in a hotel and use Wi-Fi for example, it could cost $9.95 a day - or be free - check with your hotel first! Even if you've signed up with Boingo and are paying $24.95 per month, you may well end up in a hotel that does not have the Boingo service. What then? Wireless data is a great time saver and means to stay in constant touch with your business. But be prepared to PAY! With all of that said, the biggest plus for Wi-Fi is speed and compatibility with your PC and for 3G Cellular broader access possibilities. Both services work and work well, the deciding point for you should be what best fits your business model.
Wi-Fi ReviewTo effectively use Wi-Fi services you'll have to have a pretty good idea of how many days a month you'll use the service and where you're going to be when you'll need to use it. As usual, you can find yourself paying a lot more than you budgeted for using Wi-Fi services if you aren't careful and plan ahead. Additionally, make sure you understand the coverage of your chosen provider and who they have partnered with. If you always fly out of Houston Hobby airport and T-Mobile is your service provider, you could be in trouble (it's a Boingo site). Finally, if you only "travel" around a specific metro area, look for a "local" plan. They're out there and can be much more cost-effective than a wireless data plan from your mobile phone operator.
Our review of Wi-Fi Internet Access services follows. Wi-Fi Internet Access Service Providers* (Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)
* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹1/2 AT&T's FreedomLink service is easy to use - just enable your 802.11b/g wireless card/device, and log onto the AT&T network. Cost - $$$$1/2 AT&T offers two subscription services for AT&T customers, two memberships for non-AT&T customers and three pre-paid rates plans.
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ AT&T's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYYYY AT&T's service is OS insensitive. Just have an 802.11b/g wireless-enabled device and an Internet browser. Support - pppp AT&T's web site includes the ability for you to manage your account and personal information as well as get access to a variety of technical information that will help you solve many problems with your service and/or system. If you need more help you can email AT&T (as we have with almost instantaneous response) or call them on their "800" number. Features - iiii Speed and simplicity - what more could you ask for? AT&T's FreedomLink Service is now available nationally in more than 2,300 locations. AT&T states that the service will expand to more than 6,000 locations by the end of 2006 and is currently available in select Avis, Barnes and Noble, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, MacDonald's, Caribou Coffee Shops and The UPS Store locations. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 AT&T's pricing is very competitive and they continue to expand (in concert with UPS stores). A good service, priced very competitively. AT&T also has an agreement with Sprint to allow Sprint Wi-Fi users to access AT&T "hot spots" without setting up a separate account as well.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Boingo provides easy to use software from their Web site that "sniffs" for a Boingo network when you're in a hotel, airport, cafe or other place of business. It's simple and straightforward to use and gets you on the network quickly and safely. This is all very simple if you already have a compatible wireless PCMCIA card in your laptop or PDA. If you don't, you'll have to purchase a "compatible" one (lists are available on the Web site) and install it. Cost - $$$$ Boingo offers three simple pricing plans:
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ Boingo's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYYY Boingo gets high marks for PCMCIA card compatibility and for working with Pocket PC-based PDAs, but we're waiting for them to integrate Macintosh OS's into their product set. Support - pppp Boingo currently has "hot spots" in more than 100,000 locations - airports (810), hotels (14,196) retail stores (4,276), cafes (13,132) in 68 countries (5,889 locations in the U.S.). The service is based on "tried and true" wireless LAN technology from SMC and works well. The tech support area of the Boingo web site includes account management capabilities for you as well as technical tips and software downloads. If you need more help you can email or call Boingo support on their "800" number. Features - iiii Speed and simplicity - what more could you ask for? Overall Rating - %%%% Boingo was the first Wi-Fi provider and they are going strong. Their service is simple, easy to use and in most of the places where you'd want it to be when you're on the road.
Cablevision - This service is currently accepting NO new subscribers! Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹1/2 Cablevision's Wi-Fi service is easy to use - just enable your 802.11b/g wireless card/device, and log onto the network. Cost - $$$$ Cablevision offers one Wi-Fi plan for customers of their Optiumum Online Internet access service only.
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ Cablevision's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYYYY Cablevision's service is OS insensitive. Just have an 802.11b/g wireless-enabled device and an Internet browser. Support - pppp The tech support area of Cablevision's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information. If you need more help, you can contact Cablevision via email or call them on their "800" number. Features - iii1/2 A basic Wi-Fi service available at "thousands" of locations, 650 hot spots in Cablevision's home Tri-State area including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports. Overall Rating - %%%1/2 An "add-on" service for Cablevision's cable modem customers.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Sprint provides easy to use software from their Web site that "sniffs" for a Sprint network when you're in a hotel, airport, cafe or other place of business. It's simple and straightforward to use and gets you on the network quickly and safely. This is all very simple if you already have a compatible wireless PCMCIA card in your laptop or PDA. If you don't, you'll have to purchase a "compatible" one (lists are available on the Web site) and install it. Cost - $$$ Sprint has three pricing plans:
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ Sprint's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYY Sprint's services are compatible with Wi-Fi cards/adapters from: Cisco, D-Link, Linksys (Cisco), Lucent and Microsoft (all using a Windows OS). Support - pppp Sprint currently offers 8,000 U.S. and international locations. The web site has a page where you can search for a site in a specific country or city. Sprint/Nextel's web site includes a help area with a searchable knowledgebase. If you need more help, you can email tech support or call them on their "800" number. Features - iiii Speed and simplicity - what more could you ask for? Overall Rating - %%%1/2+ A solid data solution from a company that has been doing data services for a long time.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹1/2 T-Mobile goes one better than the competition. They don't even require you to download any "proprietary" software. All you need is your laptop or PDA, your browser software, your PCMCIA 802.11b wireless card and a log-on ID and password (supplied by T-Mobile). What could be simpler? Cost - $$$1/2 T-Mobile offers a number of service options.
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ T-Mobile's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYYYY T-Mobile gets high marks for PCMCIA card compatibility - and because there's no software, Macintosh's are welcome. Support - pppp1/2 T-Mobile currently has "hot spots" in more than 45,000 locations (8,048 in the U.S. and 37,000 roaming locations) - airports (200), cafes, hotels (8,500) and convention centers (including Starbucks, Border's Books, Kinko's, Hyatt Hotels and the club locations of American, Delta, United and U.S. Airways). The service, based on "tried and true" wireless LAN technology works well. T-Mobile's web site allows you to manage your account and personal information as well as gain access to help technical information. If you need more help, you can email T-Mobile tech support personnel or call them on their "800" number. Features - iiii Speed and simplicity - what more could you ask for? Overall Rating - %%%% T-Mobile's "hot spot" services are simple, straight-forward and cost-effective if you need mobile data access within your metropolitan area or around the U.S.
Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹ Wayport (if you don't know who they are, have you see those Laptop Lane kiosks in the airports? That is Wayport!) like T-Mobile does not require any client software. Just configure your wireless card (and maybe your email application and web browser) and you'll be connected. Cost - $$$1/2 Wayport offers 5 pricing plans.
Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹ The speed of the service will definitely increase your productivity. However if you have to stop at a specific location to use it, then it is a time waster. But since, we believe that you're better off surfing and sending email than just staring out the window when you're at the airport waiting for that delayed flight... Ease of Use - @@@@ Wayport's Wi-Fi services are simple and straightforward to use. Works With - YYYYY If you have a compatible card, you're in business. Support - ppp1/2 Wayport currently has 12,000 Wayport managed locations - hotels and airports in the main as well as in Canada, The Bahamas, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Saint Kitts & Nevis and the UK. Wayport has agreements with Hertz, MacDonalds and a number of hotel chains including Four Seasons, Loews, Summerfield Suites, Wyndham, Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Sierra Suites, Doubletree, Ramada, Hampton In, Marriott, Days Inn, Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites, Best Western, Westin, Omni and Country Inns and Suites by Carlson. The service, based on "tried and true" wireless LAN technology works well. Features - iiii Speed and simplicity - what more could you ask for? Overall Rating - %%%% Wayport's kiosk and hotel approach adds more services for the user (laptop rentals, ability to buy gear, and privacy) but at a price. Wayport's recent agreement with McDonald's, Hertz and others will further enhance their reach and viability.
|
|
Treillage Network Strategies, Inc. ©
2006 Send mail to
webmaster@homeofficereports.com with questions or comments about this web
site. |
|
