Mobile hotspots?

But you will find that before you find a Panera Bread.

 

My iPhone4 (on Rogers network, Canada) doesn't have the hotspot enabled due to the fact my carrier sucks. My wife has the same phone on another carrier (Bell) and can wireless hotspot for no extra charge.

Anyhow, to get around this I found a few apps that use a Bluetooth connection to transfer files from the work iPad I use on the road to my iPhone. Then I use my normal data to send my story and photos in. It's a bit more complicated but works in a pinch.

For those who think that using a wireless hotspot just to file will eat up data, that's completely false. The amount of data to send a simple text email (no photos) is negligible. If you're regularly sending photos or using the hotspot to download files that's a different story. But even mild internet browsing plus sending emails shouldn't be a problem.

Bottom line, if you already have a smartphone, it'll work. If you don't, perhaps you could convince your work to spring for one, or at least pay the monthly bill for it as mine does.

 

He said he freelances, so that's not an option.

Also, correct me if I am wrong, but using the phone to connect a computer to the Internet requires much more data than that of sending the necessary e-mail.

 

AT&T has some go-phones that can be enabled as hotspots. You're probably looking at $100 or so to upgrade.

 

The hotspot merely acts as a router, routing the data from one place to another. The amount of data doesn't change.

 

My work has an AT&T "puck." My boss said it's $50 a month. I used it at my house one night/day because my wireless is RIDICULOUSLY unstable. It was amazing and I decided to look into one. For your purposes, the base would probably be enough. But if I was going to replace my home internet with it, it's not financially viable since it measures data.

 

I thought this thread was about where to find a good time in south Alabama.

 

What kind of hotels do you stay in? The few times I go on the road, the ones I've been in (Doubletree, Comfort Inn, etc) have free wifi.

 

Last time I was on the road for a job, Marriotts were $14.95 or $19.95 a day. I think Courtyard was free, but I'm not positive. But Marriotts themselves, and I think one or two other of their properties, were still charging. Course, that was like two years ago.