New Services Can Give You a Hot-Spot On the Go If it is, your friends and colleagues will be happy to see you--and leech off your mobile high-speed connection.
By Rich Karpinski •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
High-speed 4G data service on your phone is great, but how about carrying a full-blown Wi-Fi hot spot with you wherever you go that can share your mobile data connection with all your devices--or even other users?
Mobile providers like Verizon and Sprint are offering just that, with help from devices made by Novatel Wireless, Sierra Wireless, Samsung and others. These devices turn a 3G/4G wireless connection into a Wi-Fi signal that can be shared by multiple devices wherever you are: in an airport, on a train or at a client site. Typically, up to five devices can hop on the mobile hot spot and surf away.
Devices and deals vary by service provider. Sprint was one of the first out of the gate with its Overdrive, charging $59.99 per month for mobile broadband service to power the device. (At press time, the operator said it was phasing out the Overdrive for a new hot spot product, presumably focused on its growing 4G network.) Verizon gives away its MiFi device, with monthly data plans starting at $35 for 3GB of data.
