A definition of hotspots
A hotspot allows you to use your laptop, MP3 player, tablet, or mobile gaming device to access the internet when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi. Hotspots use mobile broadband service from your mobile carrier provider for 3G, 4G, or 4G LTE internet access.
Specifically, your smartphone uses its 3G, 4G, or 4G LTE cellular data connection to connect to the internet. With that Wi-Fi connection, you laptop or other device now has Wi-Fi accessibility. In this situation, your phone acts as a Wi-Fi router. Smartphones that have mobile hotspot capabilities help you stay connected anywhere by using your plan’s data or using a tethering allowance from your mobile carrier.
How to make a smartphone hotspots
Turning your phone into a hotspot can save you the hassle of looking for a a reliable and free Wi-Fi. Most modern smartphones are capable of serving as Wi-Fi hotspots to as many as ten other devices. That is, as long as you have the correct service plan.
- Turning Android phones into hotspotsThe instructions vary by Android phone, but users can figure out how to turn their device into a Wi-Fi hotspot by going into Settings and tapping More under Wireless & Networks. There, you should see a Tethering or Portable Hotspot option. Choose it, then set up your password and save it. Finally, select Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot to enable hotspot mode.
- Turning iPhones into hotspotsTo turn your iPhone into a hotspot, tap Settings and then Mobile. Then, tap Personal Hotspot and switch it on. Tap Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Tap Wi-Fi Password and enter a password. If you’re connecting to a Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon at the top of your computer or laptop screen and select the Wi-Fi Hotspot that you created with your phone. Enter the same password you entered when creating the hotspot.
Pros of turning smartphone hotspots
There are many benefits of using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. First, it enables you to access the internet from nearly anywhere on a device that otherwise would not have had a connection. Thanks to 4G LTE connection speeds, you may find that other Wi-Fi-enabled devices work faster on a hotspot than when you work using a traditional Wi-Fi modem. As long as you stay within your mobile carrier’s plan allowances for data or tethering, you’ll be able to work using your smartphone as a hotspot at an affordable rate.
Another advantage of turning your phone into a hotspot is that you save the cost of purchasing a separate mobile hotspot. People who purchase mobile hotspots often forget them at home or office. Because you’re unlikely to forget your smartphone, you’ll be able to easily connect to the internet anywhere. Mobile hotspots also tend to be bulkier than smartphones, which makes it a pain to store them in a purse.
Finally, turning your phone into a hotspot is more secure than using public Wi-Fi in a hotel, restaurant, coffee shop, or other location. When you set up your smartphone as a hotspot, you use a password to protect it. And you and other authorized users are the only people using the connection. Public Wi-Fi makes you vulnerable to hackers and security breaches that can spell trouble for you, your family, and your company.
Check with your mobile carrier before using your phone as a hotspot to be informed of possible charges and fees for doing so. Once you’re set to use your phone as a hotspot, you’ll enjoy the convenience and security and never go back to public Wi-Fi again.
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