hot-spot

Tethering and a hot spot on the Nexus S

As I said last week in CNET's full review of the Samsung Nexus S, I was pleased to find that the handset supports tethering and it can function as a Wi-Fi hot spot. Such is the benefit of using a phone with the stock Android OS. Indeed, both features are increasingly popular among smartphone users, but some carriers have stood in the way of making them a reality.

Sprint and Verizon Wireless, for example, declined to add tethering to their Froyo-equipped handsets, even though the Android 2.2 update promised to add the feature. And though Sprint does offer hot-spot capability on its HTC Evo 4G, the carrier charged an extra $29.99 per month for the privilege.

The Nexus S, on the other hand, adds both features for less money. We're still confirming with T-Mobile if there will be a separate fee. T-Mobile will charge an additional $14.99 per month to use them, but you're saddled with a few restrictions. I was able to play with both over the weekend, and I'm pleased to say that I was quite impressed with the performance on both fronts. … Read more

Inside the Droid 2 lurks a Droid X

Inside, the Droid 2 has some striking similarities to the Droid X--which isn't a bad thing.

Motorola's Droid 2 will be in stores Thursday for $199.99 with a two-year contract, after a $100 mail-in rebate (like the Droid X). The phone packs the Android 2.2 operating system, which has support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1. (The Droid X shipped with Android 2.1.)

Though the two phones differ physically--the Droid 2 is a slider smartphone, the Droid X eschews the physical keyboard--there's a lot inside that's the same, if not identical. (And note … Read more

In NYC: Private livery service, public Wi-Fi

Private car services may not be the cheapest way to get around the city, but at least you can get a little work done while you're stuck in traffic, now that a handful of them are equipped to deliver free ad-supported Internet access. Or so the rationalization goes.

But it's not just the well-heeled who will benefit from this perk; these mobile hot spots may be the answer to delivering free Wi-Fi to all of New York City.

LimoRes Car & Limo Service, a private car service company, has outfitted 25 of its cars with Wi-Fi hot spots … Read more

Droid X's Wi-Fi hot spot: Boon and bane

Motorola's Droid X Wi-Fi hot spot feature is a remarkable new level of integration in a smartphone. But packing more and more high-function stuff into a small device has its trade-offs.

The Droid X appears to be a hit, with reports that it was sold out at many Verizon stores (indeed, my local Verizon store in suburban Los Angeles was sold out on the first day of sales). To recap quickly, Motorola's new high-end smartphone allows a user to create a hot spot, similar to the access point that patrons connect to when in a Starbucks. Except, of … Read more

Time Warner offers free Wi-Fi in NYC

Time Warner Cable has launched free Wi-Fi for all 1 million of its New York City customers.

According to Time Warner, customers can connect to "thousands" of high-speed Wi-Fi hot spots around the city starting Thursday. Time Warner Cable subscribers will have unlimited access to the Wi-Fi services, which run on Cablevision's Optimum Wi-Fi network that launched in 2008.

It should be noted that only New York City-based subscribers will be able to access the hot spots. In order to access a hot spot, customers will need to log in using their Road Runner username and password.… Read more

T-Mobile rolls out HotSpot @Home for business

T-Mobile announced Monday that it will extend its HotSpot @Home service to include businesses. Right now, the service allows regular consumers to make unlimited calls via a home Wi-Fi network (provided you have a UMA-supported phone), and if they wander out of range, the call will switch over to the cellular network.

Like the consumer model, businesses need only pay a flat monthly rate to take advantage of the unlimited Wi-Fi calls, though it'll likely take place over enterprise-grade Wi-Fi networks instead. This makes sense to us, since businesses have a lot more people wheeling and dealing over the … Read more

AT&T Wi-Fi auto-authentication available on iPhone OS 3.0

AT&T has announced a new AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot feature: support for auto-authentication on iPhone OS 3.0 for faster automatic connections. This is good news for iPhone users who, while they have had free access to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots for some, struggled to access the hotspots because of the complicated steps it took to do so. According to AT&T's announcement:

AT&T today announced it will support auto-authentication for iPhone OS 3.0 users connecting to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots. Auto-authentication allows iPhone users … Read more

Budget shopping tips: Wireless networking

It's probably unlikely that any of you reading this don't already have a wireless network at home. But hey, if you don't, it's not too late: I have some quick tips for you on how to get one up with the least amount of money.

Go free This is not always the case but a lot of Internet providers, such as AT&T, offer a free gateway (most likely after rebate). Take it. I have also learned that if you have been a long-time customer who originally got only the modem, you can call in … Read more

AT&T to acquire Wi-Fi network provider Wayport

Correction: This post incorrectly stated the number of hot spots Wayport would contribute to the AT&T network, as well as the overall pricing for use of those hot spots. Including Wayport, AT&T will now operate approximately 20,000 hot spots in the United States, free only to customers of certain plans.

AT&T announced plans on Thursday to acquire Wi-Fi network provider Wayport in a $275 million cash deal.

The acquisition will expand AT&T's network of U.S. hot spots, adding locations at hotel chains such as Wyndham, Marriott Vacation Club, and … Read more