For the past month, I’ve been using the Palm Mobile HotSpot on the Palm Pre Plus with Verizon Wireless. Surprisingly, I haven’t had the need to use it as much as I thought I might due to the large number of open Hotspots available near my office. However, I love the convenience of having an internet connection with me at all times. The greatest benefits come when I’m on the road (and someone else is driving) or in connecting my iPod Touch and hopefully in the future, my iPad.
Here are the current options available with the Palm, Android, and iPhone (iOS) Platforms:
PALM –
Currently, the Palm Mobile HotSpot only works on the Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus from Verizon Wireless. Initially, Verizon attempted to charge $4o per month for the service. However, do to slow-to-no uptake on the HotSpot Feature, they now offer the feature as an automatic add-on to the Pre and Pixi Plus when sold. It remains free for the life of the contract as long as the customer keeps a Pre Plus or Pixi Plus on the subscribed number. The service is capped at 5GB for tethered data, but the data for phone use remains unlimited.
iPhone (iOS) -
The only options available to iPhone customers for Wi-Fi Tethering is through a jailbreak. The “Mi-Wi” app is available from the Cydia Store and works much the same as the Mobile HotSpot for the Palm. Because this is not an approved app by apple, it can’t be downloaded from iTunes and is not approved by AT&T. Charges may or may not apply. If AT&T can detect that you are tethering a laptop or other device, they could charge you for the usage … possibly at a per MB rate. Be careful if using Mi-Wi.
Android:
Currently with Android 2.1 and below, the only option is by using “Barnacle” on a “rooted” Android Phone. Rooting is the Android version of “jailbreaking” the device, thereby gaining “root” or “super user (su)” access to the Android device. Root processes are different for each device and generally are available on the internet within a month or two of the release of the device. Once again, using Barnacle could result in “Tethered Data” charges from your carrier. Proceed with caution if using a method that’s not approved by your carrier.
Going forward in Android 2.2 “Froyo”, Google will incorporate a Wi-Fi Mobile HotSpot Feature into the Operating System. This will also be available on the upcoming DROID X from Verizon Wireless for $20/month for 2GB of Wi-Fi Tethering. Other carriers have not stated how or if they will permit the Mobile HotSpot App or if they will block it out of their Android handset releases.
RIM / Blackberry:
At this time, RIM has not announced whether they will incorporate this feature in their new Blackberry OS6.
Other Options:
For some time now, Verizon Wireless and Sprint have offered the Novatel MiFi 2200. You can connect up to 5 users to the mobile Wi-Fi router / hotspot after initial setup. Both Verizon and Sprint have a 5GB cap on data with the device and a contract is required to get the device at the promotional price. Also, Sprint offers the Sprint “Overdrive” 4G Mobile Hotspot with WIMAX 4G service (where available). I would expect that Verizon Wireless will offer it’s own 4G Mobile Hotspot when or after they launch their 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) Network later this year.
(Photo courtesy of Gadgetdna.com)
